Ronnie O’Sullivan makes immediate decision on retiring after World Championship exit | Other | Sport

Ronnie O’Sullivan has issued an immediate update on his future in snooker following his last-16 defeat against John Higgins at the World Championship. O’Sullivan had led by four frames on two separate occasions, but Higgins dug deep in the final session to edge a 13-12 classic.

It was described by John Parrott as ‘one of the best’ Crucible encounters, but it could end up being O’Sullivan’s final match at the World Snooker Championship. The 50-year-old has drastically cut his schedule back in recent years, with suggestions that retirement might be just around the corner.

Speaking to SportsBoom, the Rocket offered an update on his future, saying: “That depends, you know, if my sponsors are on board then I’ll play. Listen, I’m not two feet in like pretty much most of the guys and, you know, I just play whenever I want to play.

“I’m just grateful to be playing. I enjoy my playing and that’s it. If I don’t enjoy it then I’ll take time out. If I’m enjoying it…we’ll see. It’s too hard to start speculating about next year already.”

O’Sullivan has previously claimed he wanted to keep playing for a few more years in order to chase an elusive eighth World Championship crown. Speaking earlier this year, he explained: “I’d like to win one more [World Championship].

“I will probably have three or four genuine attempts at it. I think that is going to be my main goal for the rest of my career, to try and win one more. If I can that would be great, but still just try and enjoy the game, enjoy the crowds and enjoy the tournaments.”

If O’Sullivan commits to this, it could see him compete in a World Championship away from the Crucible. That’s because from 2029 onwards, planned work is taking the tournament away from Sheffield to a temporary venue, opening up the possiblity of hosting it in Saudi Arabia.

O’Sullivan has been outspoken in his support of tournaments in the Middle Eastern nation, but when asked about the move to take the Saudi Arabia Masters off the tour schedule from next season onwards, he offered a coy response: “Listen, any tournament I go to, they all know they have to get the cheque book out, so wherever I go that’s standard.

“If that stops then I stop. Wherever it is, Saudi, Qatar, China, here, whatever it is, I always make sure I’ve got some sort of fee coming because otherwise people know that I won’t turn up.”