Ronnie O'Sullivan responds to 'ambassador' criticism from fellow players Hossein Vafaei and Shaun Murphy

Updated 22/04/2023 at 20:33 GMT

Seven-time champion O'Sullivan has previously been criticised by Shaun Murphy for not being a good ambassador for snooker. O'Sullivan says he has "carried the flag for a long time and given back in that way" but "never signed up to be an ambassador". O'Sullivan has also been criticised in the same way by Hossein Vafaei, who The Rocket thrashed in the World Championship second round.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan says he has “done my part” as a snooker ambassador in “different sorts of ways” following criticism from Hossein Vafaei and Shaun Murphy.

Murphy has previously said seven-time world champion O’Sullivan has fallen short as an ambassador for snooker and has called his attitude towards the sport “very frustrating”.

Vafaei also criticised O’Sullivan in a remarkable broadside before their second-round match at the World Championship, a match that O'Sullivan ran away with to triumph 13-2.

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Asked about how he feels he has fulfilled his role as an ambassador for snooker, O’Sullivan told Eurosport: “I never signed up to be an ambassador, I just signed up to play snooker and over the years I hope I have given a lot of joy to the fans all over the world who have come to watch snooker.

“I think I have done my part. Me and John Higgins, Mark Williams, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Jimmy White, we are all ambassadors in different sorts of ways. We have carried the flag for a long time and given back in that way.

“I am not going to sit here and say I am the most politically correct and say the right things at the right time, if you want someone like that then Shaun Murphy is definitely your man. But that’s not the script I follow, I can’t change the fieriness inside me.

“But I have learnt to detach myself a little bit which has allowed me to come and enjoy my snooker. I don’t get involved in the politics anymore, I just play the sport because I love it and I think I can do a lot more good for the game that way.

“I am never going to be the greatest ambassador, if you want that I can give you Shaun Murphy’s number and you can give him a call.”

O’Sullivan said that he doesn’t take the criticism from Vafaei “personally” and feels he is an “easy target”.

Ahead of his thrashing of Vafaei, the snooker great had said he wasn't out for revenge.

"I don't have any revenge in me. I just like to play the game and to compete and to enjoy the match. I love my snooker and that is the most important thing for me.

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"I don't get involved in those battles because it is not worth it. We are here to play a game and play snooker. You have just got to try and stay in your own lane and stay focused on what you have got to do."

O’Sullivan is bidding to win the World Championship for a record eighth time.

He is currently tied with Stephen Hendry on seven titles.

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