21 February 2023 , 19:01
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Snooker star Dan Wells has expressed his sadness at comments made about him by Ronnie O’Sullivan.
During Eurosport’s coverage of last week’s Welsh Open, 'The Rocket' claimed the 34-year-old "was not good enough" to get a main tour card and should stay a part-time player. Wells took exception to the remarks and suggested the sport's top ranked player "should engage his brain a bit more and think about other people".
"I’m a bit disappointed that I have to be talking about that now," Wells told The Metro. "I’ve come off the back of a few decent results and I’d rather be talking about that, but if I’m asked for an opinion, I’ll give it. I think there was a better way of saying what he said. If that’s his opinion then he’s entitled to it, but the way it came across was as a bit of a personal attack. It’s not the first time it’s happened, not to me but to other players.
"I didn’t take too kindly to the numpty business. I don’t think it needs to happen and it’s disappointing when it does because everyone loves Ronnie for what he does on the table and some stuff off the table. He can be funny, but there’s a line you can cross and I think he crossed it.” Wells was ranked number 52 in the world before his career took a drastic turn during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He tested positive for the dreaded virus and missed events as a result, and was unable to regain his form when he returned to competition. Therefore, he lost his place on the pro tour at the end of the 2021/22 season and joined his mum's cleaning business to make ends meet.
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After enjoying one of the best performances of his career by beating Judd Trump at the Welsh Open, O’Sullivan made his remarks before Wells lost to Shaun Murphy in the next round. "He's never going to be a tournament winner," O'Sullivan said. "He's just not good enough. He should just stay as a part-time player, irrelevant of how well he does - the pressure is off him.
"Next year, if he gets a main tour card and invests totally in snooker, I bet he goes back to getting beaten and not enjoying it again. He has tried that and he ain’t at that level, never will be. At best, he will maybe make a few semi-finals now and again, but it is hard to invest everything into that when he can still do that as a part-time player - he can still get to the semi-finals of this, but he is never going to be a tournament winner, he is just not good enough.
"If I was advising him, I’d tell him to stay as a part-time player, you’re having fun and enjoying it. That’s the way he’s going to play his best snooker.” Following the seven-time world champion’s claims, it made a dent in the confidence of Wells who has fought so hard to recover from his setbacks.
Dan Wells was left unhappy with O'Sullivan saying he should 'remain a part time player' (VCG via Getty Images)"After I beat Judd because I was feeling elated and instantly I was messaged about what Ronnie was saying,” he said. “It was quite negative and quite humiliating because I’ve got family and friends watching who are trying to believe in me.
"What he says has a lot of power because he is the best player of all time, so when he makes a point people take it as gospel. It’s damaging. When he’s making these kinds of points, some people might not be in a fit state to deal with them. I think he should engage his brain a bit more and think about other people.
"These people may be going through difficult periods, in snooker and in life. Then they’ll have people coming up to them saying, 'did you hear what Ronnie said about you, that you’re not good enough?' Having to deal with that… I wish he’d think about that a bit more." Despite O'Sullivan's reservations, Wells looks set to back on the tour for the 2023/24 campaign.
Last month, he reached the semi-finals of the Shoot Out event and claimed the sclap of another top player. "My results have been good this season. I had a great win over Judd and I've beaten John Higgins," he said. "It's nice to get my life back on track and going through those experiences has just made me stronger, so I'm hopeful for the future."