{"id":8752,"date":"2026-05-01T14:34:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8752"},"modified":"2026-05-01T14:34:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:34:21","slug":"barry-hearn-speaks-out-on-ronnie-osullivans-future-in-snooker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=8752","title":{"rendered":"Barry Hearn speaks out on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s future in snooker"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan fell at his second hurdle at the World Snooker Championship this year (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Barry Hearn is unconcerned if Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan chooses not to play snooker in future, but says it is nice to have him around and hopes he is still competing at 60.<\/p>\n

The 50-year-old remains the sport\u2019s biggest star, despite playing in far fewer tournaments than most players over the last two seasons.<\/p>\n

The Rocket has chosen to play a reduced schedule, although not an entirely sparse one, competing in eight ranking events and two more non-ranking tournaments over this campaign.<\/p>\n

He has had something of a dry spell in terms of titles, though, with his last ranking triumph coming in January 2024 at the World Grand Prix.<\/p>\n

O\u2019Sullivan was looking very good early in his World Championship campaign last month, but fell 13-12 in the second round to John Higgins in a classic contest.<\/p>\n

After the match he said he will remain not \u2018both feet\u2019 in snooker and will decide on which tournaments he plays in based on whether he is offered an appearance fee or not.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\tAre you snooker loopy?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
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You’re in the right place. I’m Phil Haigh, and I cover the game we all love for Metro<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In my new newsletter, The Table, I analyse the biggest talking points, pull back the curtain on the sport and crown the biggest winners and losers every week.<\/p>\n

The next edition will look back on what has been a great World Championship yet again, so there’s no better time to sign up.<\/p>\n

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Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade, since working in World Snooker’s press office in 2012<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Matchroom president Hearn is more than happy for the Rocket to only play when he wants, saying it is never crucial for an event to have him in the draw.<\/p>\n

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John Higgins downed fellow legend Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan in the last 16 (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018It\u2019s just nice. It\u2019s not important, it just nice because if it\u2019s important, it means you can\u2019t deal without him and that\u2019s not the case,\u2019 Hearn said of O\u2019Sullivan\u2019s presence in Sheffield this year. \u2018We have so much talent in this game.<\/p>\n

\u2018But Ronnie is a legend. How important was Tiger Woods in golf? Very few players ever brought about the commercial advantages that Tiger did, but their time comes and I\u2019m just hoping that Ronnie\u2019s this enigma that will be playing when he\u2019s 60. Occasionally, when he feels like it and good luck to him.<\/p>\n

\u2018Let him play when he wants, and the day he wants to play, the doors will always be open.<\/p>\n

\u2018I want him to do that [only compete when he wants] because I want him to be happy. If he\u2019s not happy, he\u2019s not the same person, he\u2019s not the same player.<\/p>\n

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Barry Hearn feels snooker is in good shape with or without O\u2019Sullivan (Picture: Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018He\u2019s quite happy, I think, I hope. But the game has to be strong enough to survive big names, as any sport has over the years, and we will adjust, and we will create other big names.<\/p>\n

\u2018Will they get to the stature of Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan? I personally doubt it, but who knows? I don\u2019t know what the future is there. If I knew what the future was, I\u2019d be backing every horse in yesterday\u2019s race.\u2019<\/p>\n

With the Class of 92 all still in the world\u2019s top 16 in their 50s, Hearn says it is a good thing for snooker to have the iconic figures playing for so long.<\/p>\n

\u2018Mark Williams is still there, John Higgins is still there. Ronnie, the great Ronnie. These people are legends,\u2019 he said.<\/p>\n

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