Stephen Hendry explains how Ronnie O'Sullivan can become snooker's first £2m man - 'It would be incredible'
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ByEurosport
Updated 13/03/2024 at 15:48 GMT
Stephen Hendry is convinced fellow seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is on course to become snooker's first £2m man by claiming the last three major titles of the season. After watching the world No. 1 ease to the £250,000 winner's cheque at the Riyadh Masters in Saudi Arabia, Hendry feels there is more glory ahead for the 41-time ranking event winner before the campaign ends.
Watch as O'Sullivan clinches glory in final of Riyadh Season World Masters
Stephen Hendry believes Ronnie O'Sullivan could become snooker's first £2m man by ending his campaign with victories at the World Open, Tour Championship and World Championship.
The snooker GOAT has already set a new seasonal prize money record for the professional game with title wins at the UK Championship, Masters, World Grand Prix and Riyadh World Masters, but Hendry feels there could be more glory for O'Sullivan to grab.
In the most fruitful season of his 32-year career, O'Sullivan has gone over the £1m mark for the first time in a season – so far earning a whopping £1,141,500 from 11 tournaments – with the final three events of the 2023/24 season providing further earning opportunities.
The World Open in Yushan next week (live on Eurosport and discovery+) will see the winner collect £170,000 with the Tour Championship and World Championship providing scope to pick up other six-figure cheques with high break prizes also up for grabs.
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"Look at the money he is making. He is absolutely trousering hundreds of thousands of pounds every single week it seems. I'm more jealous of the snooker he plays rather than what he is earning. Ronnie has so far earned £1,141,500," said Hendry on the World Snooker Tour podcast.
"If he was to win the World Open, Tour Championship and the World Championship, he could go over £2m earnings for a single season.
"Which would be incredible. If he did do it, it would be a pretty good advert for snooker.
"Because I think people think snooker is not what it was, and the prize money and titles, people think snooker is not a big a sport as it was.
"But if someone was to win £2m in one season, I think it would be a pretty good advert for our sport."
Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan is due to return to action at the World Open in Yushan on Tuesday, March 19 when he faces Michael White at 11:30am UK time for a place in the last 32.
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