Despite his recent accomplishments, Masters winner Ronnie O’Sullivan acknowledges that he was better as a youngster.

Despite being the oldest champion of the Masters aged 48, Ronnie O’Sullivan maintains that he was a stronger player in his teenage years.

In the Alexandra Palace final, O’Sullivan overcame a 6-3 deficit to defeat Ali Carter 10-7 and win a record-tying eighth Masters title.

The current world champion, who also took home the UK Championship in December, is five championships ahead of Stephen Hendry with 23 Triple Crown victories. An eighth World Championship crown at the Crucible would complete a perfect sweep of the biggest events in the game.

But when asked if there was any aspect of his game that was better now than when he won his first Masters championship in 1995 at the age of 19, O’Sullivan was characteristically self-deprecating.

To be honest with you, I believed that at the ages of 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, I was even better than I am now, O’Sullivan admitted to Eurosport.

“Technically, I thought I was considerably stronger and more reliable. I look for that since I’m a little in and out these days.

Since 2001, things have improved, and in order to maintain everything as tight as possible, I’ve had to work on the technological side.

“I have excellent periods, good months, and good years occasionally, but I also have terrible months and terrible years. I just accept this fact and try to get through it in the hopes that things will get better eventually.

It’s really difficult for me.

O’Sullivan earned £250,000 for each of his victory in the UK Championship and Masters, and if he wins the £500,000 first prize in the World Championship, he will have earned £1 million from Triple Crown events this season.