Daniel Wells is determined to disprove criticisms from Ronnie O’Sullivan after facing harsh comments from the snooker icon. During his amateur appearance at the 2023 Welsh Open, O’Sullivan, working as a pundit on Eurosport, advised Wells to stick to part-time play rather than pursue a return to the professional circuit. The seven-time world champion expressed his belief that Wells should remain a part-time player due to perceived mental challenges in sustaining professional status, stating that Wells was not at the required level and would not achieve tournament victories.
Despite O’Sullivan’s negative assessment, Wells managed to reach the last 16 of the Welsh Open, even defeating Judd Trump, the current world number one. Unfazed by O’Sullivan’s remarks, Wells re-entered the World Snooker Tour. Currently ranked 41st globally, Wells has shown notable success this season, including a semi-final appearance at the Xi’an Grand Prix, where he was defeated by Mark Williams, the eventual champion.
As he prepares for UK Championship qualifying, Wells acknowledges that O’Sullivan’s criticisms continue to motivate him. In an interview with the Talking Snooker podcast, Wells expressed gratitude for the recognition by O’Sullivan, emphasizing that the critique serves as added motivation for him to prove his capabilities in professional snooker competition. Wells remains resilient in the face of criticism, drawing inspiration from the challenge to succeed despite doubts cast upon him.
In a contrasting development, O’Sullivan suffered a 4-0 defeat against Shaun Murphy in the first round of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. Murphy swiftly eliminated the 49-year-old in just over an hour, setting the stage for O’Sullivan’s upcoming participation in the UK Championship, commencing on November 29. Murphy is slated to compete against World Champion Zhao Xintong in the quarter-finals.