“My biggest regret was picking up a drink and a substance to get through my bad times, and it got out of hand. I think that’s why I feel grateful for everything I’ve got now because I remember those six years with people telling me they were going to get me out of it at the time, and I was going to be happy and clean and playing snooker.
“I remember those times, so I know to be grateful that I’ve come out the other end because a lot of people don’t. You see plenty of sports people who don’t get back from that bad place and keep going downhill.”
O’Sullivan, who is currently playing in the UK Championships in York, discusses his mental health issues throughout his new documentary and says it was “harrowing” to watch back his problems with addiction in his 20s.
In response, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said: “As Ronnie was saying, you need to throw the towel in and must stop. It might not be a particular day for people, it might get to a stage where you’re not enjoying it anymore, you get to a tipping point or might hit rock bottom and that you’re upsetting the people around you – sometimes it’s as easy as that but you have to get there.
“You talk about having regrets but sometimes you need to go to these dark places. You need to hit rock bottom and you had great times, but when you’re not enjoying it anymore then it’s time to throw the towel in.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan was speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet.
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