RONNIE O'Sullivan doesn't believe he will ever eclipse Steve Davis or Stephen Hendry's achievements in snooker.

After winning the Betfed.com world championship on Monday – his fourth Crucible title – O'Sullivan is taking six months off.

However, the Englishman, who defeated compatriot Ali Carter 18-11 in this year's final, does not think he has enough time to match or better Davis' six world titles and Hendry's record seven world titles.

It was an honest assertion from a man who is considered to be one of the best to have played the sport. "I wouldn't say snooker needs me, but I do think snooker is better with me in it than me out of it," said O'Sullivan. "Take Tiger Woods, if he's not playing I'm not interested in a golf tournament. I don't care if he is 10 over, I want to watch him because he can do things other players can't do.

"I'm not putting myself in that category because he's an unbelievable sportsman in the top two or three of all time – maybe with Muhammad Ali, Michael Schumacher – iconic people who have taken their sport to the world and an unbelievable level.

"But my chances of winning tournaments are getting less and less, they're not getting more and more. I've won four world titles, but seven is a mammoth total. I don't think I can achieve what they have, it's a war of attrition to win this [the world title].

"I've got my four [titles], but Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis were special kinds of people. To even think about emulating them is dream world. I am not quite sure what I am doing at the moment, but after some time off I will reassess and, for now, just enjoy this moment."

O'Sullivan celebrated his "best" world title win with his four-year-old son Ronnie Jr this week. Yet, despite pocketing a £250,000 top prize, the 36-year-old is more concerned with spending time with his son, and young daughter Lily. "I am almost more pleased for Ronnie, Lily and their mum than I am for myself after winning the title," he said.

"I love being a dad, it's the best thing in the world. I just want to spend more time with my family."

He may not be able to stay away from snooker altogether, though, with Ronnie Jr having expressed a desire to follow his father's illustrious footsteps. "I just want him to do whatever he wants to do," said O'Sullivan. "Whatever that is, I hope he doesn't have the mindset that I had for about 16 years.

"I was all right until I was 16 and then I got too harsh on myself, I knew I was capable of more than I was giving and got frustrated. Snooker is a tricky one, a lot about the mind as well as skill, in my dream world I would love to see him on a golf course, play tennis, any sport he can play. I'd love him to be the next Tiger Woods.

"I was brought up a little bit like Tiger Woods was brought up, it was hard practice and I didn't really have a childhood. Well I did, I loved going to the snooker club, but I want Ronnie Jr to be happy and enjoy himself."

O'Sullivan has tried his best to play in as many tournaments as he can this season, but given an ever-growing schedule he has stressed he now needs time off to recharge. He was struck down with glandular fever this season, collapsed in his hotel room and nearly fell asleep at the wheel of his car due to the demands of the gruelling circuit.

Yet Barry Hearn, the World Snooker chairman, will welcome O'Sullivan back to the sport when he feels the time is right. "I'm leaving the door open for Ronnie, he's probably the greatest player to have picked up a cue," said Hearn. "I hope he goes and sees his doctor, takes a pill and makes the right decision.

"Sometimes you make decisions in the heat of the moment, but hopefully he goes away now and has a good think about what he wants to do. There's always time to see their kids. If not, take them with you."

O'Sullivan did, however, hint at some concerns he has about snooker and the way it is run. "I don't want to hold anyone to ransom, I love the sport and I feel for the players. I am a players man, anyone who goes out there and plays," he said.

"There are people around backstage who don't know what it is to love a sport, they are there to do a job, sometimes you need some compassion for people, and cut them some slack – but that isn't happening.

"The tail is wagging the dog. If I pull out, there are players who start saying Ronnie gets this or he gets that treatment or looked after. And I think they put pressure on other people to be seen to be doing something to me, I don't want to be in that gossip bowl. I am professional, I want to give the best to my sport, but I need some help."