Snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan has made a startling admission, stating he would retire from the professional game immediately if it were not for his commitments in China and Saudi Arabia.
The Cue is on Standby
The 49-year-old snooker legend, affectionately known as 'The Rocket', is preparing for his first competitive match in the UK this season at the UK Championship in York. However, he confesses that his motivation to continue playing stems almost entirely from events outside his home nation.
O'Sullivan has not played on British soil since his semi-final appearance at the World Championship in May. This hiatus is partly explained by his recent move to Dubai. So far this season, his professional appearances have been exclusively in China and Saudi Arabia.
His return to the UK will be brief. After his campaign against Zhou Yuelong in York, he is only likely to feature in the Tour Championship in Manchester and the World Championship in Sheffield next April. Beyond that, his schedule will focus predominantly on tournaments in Asia and the Middle East.
A New Perspective on the Game
Speaking candidly during the recent Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, O'Sullivan revealed a profound shift in his attitude towards the sport. 'If I never potted another ball after this conversation, I'd be fine, you know,' he stated, highlighting a lack of burning ambition to compete solely for titles.
He elaborated that his current career is built around personal enjoyment and strategic partnerships rather than a drive to win. 'I'm in a situation where it's working for me because obviously at my age, I'm not so driven to win tournaments,' O'Sullivan explained. 'I'd like to do well in tournaments, but it's not to be-all-and-end-all.'
The key factors keeping him on the circuit are clear. 'I enjoy having the academy here in Saudi Arabia... I enjoy the couple of partnerships I have in China,' he said. He left no room for doubt about his future, adding, 'If China and Saudi decided to end our partnerships tomorrow, then I'd definitely end my playing as a professional.'
Life After Playing and a Surprising UK Outlook
When retirement does eventually come, O'Sullivan does not plan to disappear from the snooker world. He envisions a future involving media work and mentoring. 'I'd probably still do a bit of punditry. I'd probably still maybe help some players out,' he shared, indicating a desire to contribute to the sport in a different capacity.
Despite his focus on overseas events, fans in Britain can rest assured that he is not dismissive of the upcoming UK Championship. Contrary to what his comments might suggest, O'Sullivan is genuinely looking forward to competing. 'Yeah, no, I'm looking forward to it, really,' he confirmed. 'I'm really looking forward to playing in the UK. I'm looking forward to the World Championships in April.'
With Chinese interest in snooker remaining strong and high-profile events like the China Open reportedly set for a return, the partnerships that fuel O'Sullivan's career show no signs of fading, meaning his millions of fans will get to enjoy his genius for a while longer.
