Rocket sets title target

O'Sullivan: Title target

The Masters has been very good for me. I like all the big tournaments. The London crowds are a bit special and that helps me get up for it.

Ronnie O'Sullivan
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has targeted half a dozen titles in three of snooker's biggest events - including January's Masters in London when he will defend his title at Wembley.

'The Rocket' bagged a fourth Masters title at the start of the year and he believes he will soon make it to at least six of the best in the prestigious invitational event at Wembley.

A 10-8 win over Mark Selby moved O'Sullivan to within two of Stephen Hendry who holds a record six Masters titles.

O'Sullivan is targeting six Masters wins himself, but he also believes he can round off half a dozen wins in the World Championship at the Crucible and the UK Championship too.

The 34-year-old Essex cueman already has three Crucible titles and four UK wins and says if he can continue playing for another decade he can reach six in all three events.

Six of the best

"If I play for another ten or 12 years then I could get more than six," said O'Sullivan. "I could win six UK titles and six Worlds as well if I play for that long.

"The Masters has been very good for me. I like all the big tournaments. The London crowds are a bit special and that helps me get up for it."

O'Sullivan faces a tough start in his Masters defence as he goes up against Grand Prix champion Neil Robertson on Tuesday January 12.

He will have fond memories of last year's win though, as he claimed what he described as his best ever tournament win with a brand new cue.

"I was amazed to win a tournament with a new cue," he added. "It was a freaky thing to do.

"I broke the old one because I was missing balls and I can't take playing that poorly when I know what I am capable of.

Cue trouble

"I regret it a bit now because I've had trouble finding a good cue ever since. I'm only human and I've had to soldier on with what I've got."

The Masters, which starts on January 10, contains the top 16 and two wild cards, one of which being local hero Jimmy White.

O'Sullivan is expecting a tough opening match with left-hander Robertson, known as the Melbourne Machine, one of the best around these days.

"He's won a few tournaments, but there are quite a few young players who have won a few tournaments," O'Sullivan said of the Australian.

"Neil's very good, but there are lots of them coming through, 16 or 17 players, and there's not much between them. They've got technique, they are consistent and they can pot long balls."