'Ronnie O'Sullivan is my idol – what I'd heard about him couldn't be further from the truth'

'Ronnie O'Sullivan is my idol – what I'd heard about him couldn't be further from the truth'Taylor Taylor Barbershop has been operating in Sheffield since 1907 and snooker stars including Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Shaun Murphy visit during the World Championship at the CrucibleCommentsSportNick Murphy Assistant Editor 11:15, 19 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesLuke Linacre (left) has cut the hair of a number of top snooker players, including Ronnie O'Sullivan(Image: Daily Mirror)A razor sharp cut in Sheffield around April usually indicates someone has been taking in the spectacle at the Crucible. But just a short distance from the legendary venue sits a different kind of establishment, equally intertwined with snooker.‌Taylor Taylor Barbershop has been trading in Sheffield since 1907, making it two decades older than the World Championship itself. They operate two locations in the Steel City, including one on Surrey Street merely a minute's stroll from the Crucible, while the other on Division Street is a seven-minute walk away.‌That's just over two minutes longer than the time it took Ronnie O'Sullivan to pot the fastest televised 147. But what distinguishes Taylor Taylor is its connection with snooker – particularly the number of players, pundits and supporters who pop in for a quick trim during the championship.‌Luke Linacre works at both premises and has encountered many of the sport's finest. So it's fortunate that he's also a huge snooker enthusiast – you could even call it a lucky break."I've been working at Taylor Taylor for 16 years," he tells us. "I love snooker. When I came in for my interview all that time ago the qualifiers for the World Championship were going on.READ MORE: Jimmy White wanted to hit fellow snooker icon with a cue during intense rivalryREAD MORE: Wife of snooker world champion to undergo big surgery as star skips World Championship eventJOIN US ON FACEBOO...