Ronnie O’Sullivan was accused of being ‘disrespectful’ by opponent Alain Robidoux at the 1996 World Snooker Championship.

The Rocket began his campaign at the Crucible against Robidoux in the first round, securing a rampant 10-3 win in what proved to be a heated clash.

Their hostility during the match stemmed from the now seven-time world champion’s alleged showboating.

The then 20-year-old O’Sullivan began playing left-handed on his way to building an 8-2 overnight lead.

His antics prompted Robidoux to accuse his opponent of being ‘disrespectful’.

However, O’Sullivan’s left-handed play has since become almost as reliable as his stronger right-handed stance.

Despite that, Robidoux was unimpressed by the approach, prompting a response in the ninth frame.

Although he trailed by 43 points with only the pink and black left on the table, he continued to play.

Robidoux then refused to shake O’Sullivan’s hand at the end of the match but later apologised for the snub.

Meanwhile, O’Sullivan reflected on the match over two decades later in 2020.

Discussing his approach, he told Eurosport: “I wish I had started playing left-handed sooner.

“I was playing so poorly with my right hand that I should have switched. I knew that I could pot balls with my left hand. But I was aware that people might have thought I was taking the mickey.

“It just got to the point where I wish I had wished I had done it sooner because it was relaxing me.

“Alain didn’t take it too well. I could understand that at the time. But once I started, it soon became acceptable.”

O’Sullivan continued: “I beat Peter Ebdon 6-1 in the semi-finals of the Premier League in Kettering a year later playing with my left hand.

“People quickly realised that I could play as well at times with my left as my right.

“I won seven frames against Stephen Hendry playing with my left hand in a 10-8 win in the final. And he was world champion at the time.

“It was unfortunate for Alain, but he apologised to me a couple of years later and said he didn’t realise I could play as well as with my left.

“I accepted his apology. And we were good friends after that.”

O’Sullivan went on to reach the semi-finals in 1996 before losing to Peter Ebdon in the last four.