Breaking News: O’Sullivan says he could quit snooker if stopped from playing in China

Ronnie O’Sullivan says he could quit snooker if he is restricted from playing in China.

Exhibition events in the Far East are becoming increasingly lucrative but can coincide with World Snooker Tour events, with the governing body threatening to sanction players who prioritise other tournaments.

Five players recently signed up to an event in Macau that was set to clash with October’s Northern Ireland Open, although it was eventually rescheduled for December.

And the seven-time world champion admits the ongoing issue leaves the sport at a “crossroads”.

O’Sullivan, 47, told the BBC: “If I can’t go out and do what I need to do — which is play a lot in China — then I won’t ever play again.

“We are at a sort of crossroads now.

“There’s not enough here for me in the UK to justify the effort that I put in. When I go to China I play in great venues, great crowds, great prize money. And I love it.

“If it gets to the point where I’m not able to do that or I’m not allowed to do that, then I probably won’t play.

“I’ll probably go and play Chinese 8 ball [pool] because I still want to play snooker. I still want a cue in my hand.”

World No1 O’Sullivan has been critical of the WST in the past, claiming he would have to lose a limb to drop down the rankings.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is currently promoting his documentary, produced by David Beckham’s Studio 99
Ronnie O’Sullivan is currently promoting his documentary, produced by David Beckham’s Studio 99
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Doubling down on those comments, the Rocket added: “I don’t think it’s very hard to be a top-16 snooker player.

“I could probably get away with playing once a week for two or three hours a day.

“I find it hard to put myself in their shoes because I was in their shoes and I didn’t accept top 50 as OK.

“I’m not a great lover for mediocrity. I find it quite revolting in some ways, when I see people accepting that.

“That’s why I don’t hang around snooker people at venues because I just don’t like seeing it.

“I don’t think there’s enough good matches. I think there are a lot of players that people don’t know, that don’t play the game in the right way.”