Ronnie O'Sullivan 'is a genius' – Barry Hearn and Stephen Hendry discuss why The Rocket is the snooker GOAT
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ByEurosport
Published 18/07/2023 at 11:20 GMT
Barry Hearn believes snooker fans should enjoy Ronnie O'Sullivan while he is still playing the game. Hearn, ex-chairman of the World Snooker Tour, managed O'Sullivan when he was a teenager after famously overseeing the success of 1980s icon Steve Davis, the six-time world champion. "The man is a genius," said Hearn over a frame with O'Sullivan's fellow seven-time Crucible winner Stephen Hendry.
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Barry Hearn says Ronnie O'Sullivan is still the biggest draw in snooker after raising the levels of the sport above fellow multiple world champions Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry over the past 30 years.
The former World Snooker Tour chairman believes O'Sullivan still has a huge role to play in selling snooker abroad after revealing China could host six tournaments and Saudi Arabia a lucrative maiden ranking event as the post-pandemic recovery continues.
O'Sullivan has already revealed plans to focus his attention on playing overseas this season which will see him travel to Nuremberg for the European Masters in Germany next month before competing at the Shanghai Masters (September), Wuhan Open (October) and International Championship (November) in China.
He is also set to play over Christmas at the invitational Macau Masters alongside Judd Trump, Jack Lisowski, Marco Fu, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams, Si Jiahui and Ding Junhui.
Speaking to O'Sullivan's fellow seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry on YouTube, Hearn feels his fellow Essex man remains a key figure in attracting audiences to events across the globe.
"Without a doubt [he brings fans to tournaments]. We should enjoy every minute of him because the man is a genius," said Hearn, who has clashed several times with O'Sullivan in the past over the future direction of the sport.
"I love him. I wouldn't say I'm friends with him. We should be friends because we go back a long way.
"Ronnie is one of those people who just doesn't like authority. That is OK because I am authority.
"And one day he won't be playing, but my authority will reign supreme. That's what my job is."
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Hearn and Hendry agreed that O'Sullivan is the undisputed snooker GOAT.
"I think you [Hendry] replaced Davis as No. 1 and I think Ronnie replaced you as No. 1," said the celebrated sports promoter.
"There's no doubt about it," responded Hendry. "He's taken the game up a level."
Hendry has previously described O'Sullivan as the greatest snooker player of all time in backing his old rival to win a record eighth World Championship in Sheffield.
In naming his top 10 of all-time, Hearn explained to Eurosport that he has never witnessed a talent like O'Sullivan, who holds all the main records in the sport, including most ranking titles (39), most centuries (1,202) and most 147 breaks (15).
"He has been winning matches and events since he was 12 years old," said Hearn.
"I've worked with most of the greats of the game, but I don't think I've seen a greater natural talent.
"His achievements speak for themselves really, including that unbelievable 147 in the 1997 World Championship that will probably never be bettered."
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