Ian Doyle claims Ronnie O’Sullivan can beat half the field in the Betfair World Snooker Championship wearing a blindfold.
The Rocket will end his one-year sabbatical from the green baize when he opens his title defence in Sheffield on Saturday.
But Doyle, once the most powerful man in snooker with an all-star stable which included seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry along with four-time Crucible kings O’Sullivan and John Higgins, insists the Englishman is still the tournament favourite.
And the Scot says it will be 37-year-old Higgins’ last chance as he bids to make it a magnificent five because Father Time is catching up with him.
Doyle said “Ronnie is the most naturally talented player ever. We all know he’s not played for a long time but if he really wants to win it and is totally focused he’ll take all the stopping.
“To be honest you could blindfold him and he could beat half the players at this year’s world championship. He is that good. I don’t think his absence from the game will be a major problem, not when you have got the magic he’s got within his hands.”
Despite saying O’Sullivan can dispose of half of the world championship main draw with his eyes shut, Doyle insisted that his first-round opponent in Saturday’s curtain-raiser, Scot Marcus Campbell, does not come into that category.
He said: “Marcus is enjoying a sunshine period in his career and there is no way Ronnie can underestimate him. With the game now having so many Players Tour Championship events he is playing snooker all the time and playing very well.
“Ronnie could have a tough time with Marcus, I have no doubt about that.”
Higgins has had a lean season by his own high standards. Doyle, however, reckons he is a mean machine in Sheffield.
He said: “There is no question that John is capable of winning but he’s getting to the stage of his career where it’s becoming more and more difficult.
“His family is growing up and for any sportsman the older you get the tougher it gets to stay at the top. It was exactly the same with Stephen Hendry.
“To be honest, I think it’s John’s last chance of winning another world title. But over the distance he’s such a battler and a great match player so you never know, although age is catching up with him.
“But you could never discount his chances because he will have put the work in, he will want to become world champion for a fifth time, and will be hard to beat. He is the one guy in the field who is capable of beating Ronnie.”
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