Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals he intermittently fasts to boost his quest for Crucible glory… as the seven-time world champion compares himself to a forest animal

Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he is intermittently fasting in his quest for a record eighth world championship title.

The 48-year-old, who beat Ryan Day 13-7 to reach the quarter-finals, is rewriting the recipe book for staying in top shape for the relentless demands of the Crucible.

“I fast for 16 or 17 hours,” he said. “I try to stop eating at seven in the evening, but it’s difficult here because we play matches, so I stopped at 8:30 p.m.

“I didn’t eat again until 12:20 today, right before my match. It’s good. I feel good. If I eat too much, I get lazy.

“Forest animals go for several days without food. They are hungry and catch their prey, eat it and digest it for a while. They don’t eat three meals a day and snack at night.

O’Sullivan rewrites the recipe book to remain in tip-top shape to meet the demands of the Crucible.

The 48-year-old beat Ryan Day 13-7 to advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon.

And his magical food when he broke his fast and had it delivered to his dressing room door? “Cantonese, dim sum,” he says. “When I break my fast, I want to make sure it’s something I really enjoy.

“I cheated this morning: I had milk in my tea! Tomorrow I’m going to try it without milk – with a real fast.

O’Sullivan turned his attention to health in collaboration with Harley Street nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert, with whom he published a book in 2018. “The fast started when I was taking antibiotics and had to stop eating to give my stomach a break,” added World No. 1.

O’Sullivan compared himself to a forest animal and admitted he feels good at the moment

Meanwhile, Kyren Wilson became the first star to admit he had been approached by a potential rebel series – with a Chinese-backed would-be separatist offering £300,000 to attract big names.

Kyren Wilson, meanwhile, became the first player to admit he had been approached by a potentially rebel series – a potential breakaway backed by China offering £300,000 to attract big names. However, the risk is exclusion from the sport’s Triple Crown events.

Wilson, a father of two sons, knocked out debutant Joe O’Connor 13-6 before divulging: “I’ve been contacted. Many players have done it. This is a good position for snooker. However, I don’t think about it while I’m playing here. I will sit down with the family and analyze.