In this interview, published today by the Yorkshire Post, Ronnie speaks about rivalry, and speaks highly about Mark Selby.

Read the excerpt here:

O’Sullivan has a new-found respect for Selby after famously describing the world champion as the “torturer” such was his granite-like displays on the table.

Where O’Sullivan is the swashbuckling rebel who scores heavily and swiftly, Selby is more conservative and a master tactician.

But O’Sullivan – who threatened a comeback after clawing his way back from 7-2 to 8-7 at the York Barbican – has revealed time spent on tour with Selby, plus a spell as a TV pundit, has given him a new perspective.

“We spent some time on the exhibition circuit, I like his mindset and I know he is in the game for the right reasons,” said O’Sullivan, denied the chance to equal Steve Davis’s record of six UK crowns. “He’s a good lad and a fierce competitor on the table. “I know if he does go a bit slow, with long drawn-out frames, it’s not just because he is playing me, that’s how it sometimes goes for him. “I know it’s not intentional, he’s just a tough match-player. “With me I just go out there and hit them with everything I have got, like a wall I just try to walk right through it. “With Mark, he will just try and defend, defend and make it difficult for you at times. “Equally, he can go for his shots and attack. He can adapt and play that game as well. I am not, I just eat the balls. “Mark’s done well to him so congratulations to him. I enjoyed my game, I just missed too many balls to win tournaments. “There were so many I should have got and probably two or three years ago would have got. In spells I was okay but ‘spells’ is not good enough. If you want to dominate and strike fear into your opponent you can’t afford to miss easy chances. “He’s a fantastic player, he’s won a lot of tournaments and he’s a very tough match player. He’s got the all-round game.”

And read the original article too: there is more to it, including a video.