After comfortably making it to the UK Championship’s second round, Ronnie O’Sullivan said that he has no relationship with the snooker management due to constant arguments about his schedule.
Superstar snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan has declined to negotiate a peace agreement with the sport’s officials.
The 47-year-old Rocket is presently facing disciplinary actions from his employers after being reported to the WPBSA, the governing body, for a harsh criticism of the World Snooker Tour (WST) earlier this month. World No. 1 O’Sullivan said last week that he may give up tennis if he couldn’t fulfill lucrative personal obligations in China.
WST is providing in-person sessions at this week’s UK Championship so that players can voice their complaints about the way the sport is conducted.
WST is providing in-person sessions at this week’s UK Championship so that players can voice their complaints about the way the sport is conducted.
“I am aware of the culture, and it is not my style. All I want is to captain my own ship. Good luck to all the players; it’s fantastic that they want to concentrate on 130 players. However, not every player has the same opportunities as myself.
“It’s just not going to work for me to fit in with an organization that only wants you to be the same as everyone else. If only I could concentrate on the competitions. Golfers compete for large purses at every event and have supportive sponsors.
However, I refuse to split the cake with 130 other players when I travel to China or other countries and they are paying ten or fifteen times as much as I am able to play here. I have to protect my children, my family, and my other half, even though I don’t want to give up on snooker entirely.
O’Sullivan feels undervalued by managers despite being the sport’s face for thirty years. Additionally, the seven-time world champion desires the freedom to profit from lucrative exhibitions—something that player contracts may limit.
The “Macau 5″—Mark Selby, John Higgins, Luca Brecel, Ali Carter, and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh—were threatened with disciplinary action when they skipped the Northern Ireland Open in favor of an unofficial event in China last month. The event was later rescheduled for December to avoid a conflict. This is the most recent development in the player-power controversy.