Ronnie O’Sullivan shocks snooker fans as he admits: ‘I’ll walk away from the sport if I don’t get what I want’
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has told any rebel snooker players they should go where the best money is on offer.
Promoter Barry Hearn, in his annual Crucible address, laid out the financial security of the World Snooker Tour amid rumours of a potential breakaway tour, which has Chinese investment.
Anyone that jumps ship to a LIV-style circuit could possibly return to the WST but according to Hearn, they would have to start at the bottom via qualifying school.
Top stars have been privately sounded out by investors about playing new events outside of the WST remit – though SunSport understands a separate calendar has not been officially mapped out.
O’Sullivan, 48, has signed a three-year, multi-million pound ambassadorial deal to appear at WST tournaments in Saudi Arabia.
But speaking as someone who knows his true value – he is the greatest cueist after all – he says his future is an “open book” and he likes being “pampered”.
The Rocket said: “Every player has the right to do what they want to do – you see it in other sports like golf. They might be playing but somewhere else.
“It’s just like any other job really. If you get a better offer, you’re going to go.
“What’s a better offer? For some people it might not be money, it might be a reduced schedule.
“It might be more money, more busy. Everyone has to make that decision for themselves.
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“I’m just an open book, I’m here, the best offer, come speak to me. You’ll find my contact details on Instagram. Speak to my agent. Let’s talk.
“We all have families to feed. Each sportsman is a business whether you like it or not.
“So you have to do what’s right for you. We live in a competitive world. So it’s great that there’s this choice out there.
“There’s 128 players and each player has the right to decide how they operate.
“The bottom line is you’ve got to be prepared to walk away. If I didn’t get what I want am I prepared to walk away from the sport? The answer is yes.
“I’m playing because I want to play but I have a value. I’m away from home and my family need looking after. I want to support them.
“I’ve got a friend who works for the NHS but has been offered three or four times her salary to go and work in Australia. So she’s going to go and do that.
“She’s just going for the better pay. That’s what happens sometimes.”
O’Sullivan took just 45 minutes to wrap up the two frames required to smash Jackson Page 10-1, setting up a second-round clash with Ryan Day that starts on Sunday.
Stephen Hendry, who has seven world titles in tandem with O’Sullivan, reckons the world No.1 will make an eighth crown a “procession” come May 6.
Inside Ronnie's colourful career
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan has three children – two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket’s on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous ‘Snotgate’ row.
Check out all our Ronnie O’Sullivan articles here.
The Essex potter defended his mega-money Saudi deal against allegations he is a cog of the country’s worldwide sportswashing agenda.
O’Sullivan, 48, said: “The Saudis are a powerful outfit. The same as China.
“They’re serious players. So things get done pretty quickly and again it’s hard to turn down.
“I just want to play snooker, I want to have fun. I want to be looked after. I want to be pampered. Anyone who wants to pamper me and look after me, I’m your man!
“I think we’ve got really serious human rights issues going on in the UK and America.
“The way America are bombing the hell out of these countries. I think we need to look a bit nearer to our own western policies.
“Rather than looking out to what’s going on around the world.
“We should be looking at ourselves seriously. I don’t think we have the right to criticise anybody.”