Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals reason for not skipping World Snooker Championship – ‘They twisted my arm’
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ByEurosport
Published 03/05/2024 at 09:40 GMT
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan admits he had to have his arm twisted to play at the World Championship this year. O'Sullivan was stunned 13-10 by Stuart Bingham at the quarter-final stage this year, but has now said that he would not have played in the tournament at all if it was not for a new sponsor. O'Sullivan adds he could have instead spent his time doing "so many nice things".
'I felt like I cued better at this tournament than I have done for two years' - O'Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan says he had to have his arm twisted to play at the World Snooker Championships this year.
O’Sullivan’s pursuit of an eighth world title was ended by Stuart Bingham at the quarter-final stage at the Crucible. The shock defeat also saw his hopes of winning all the Triple Crown trophies in a single season end abruptly.
O’Sullivan admits that he only played in snooker’s most prestigious tournament this year because of a new sponsor.
He told reporters: "I wasn't going to playing in this one until a new sponsor came along, and they twisted my arm.
"If I hadn't have come here I would have done [punditry] days with Eurosport. They've been pretty good with me, so I wanted to fulfil that.”
O’Sullivan says there “are so many nice things” he could have been doing when the World Championship has been on other than playing snooker.
"There's so many things to do in life,” he said.
“I've got such a busy, good life. I'd have probably have some painting with Damien [Hirst].
"Ate some nice food with him, took the dogs. Spent time with Laila [partner], seen my children, gone to Champney's Spa and spent maybe four or five days there. There are so many nice things to do.
"I'd have come here, spent a few days doing stuff with Eurosport, running in the peaks, going to the gym, doing good food.
“Yeah, life, that's what I'd have probably done. It probably sounds boring to you guys but it sounds bloody exciting to me!"
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O’Sullivan recently signed an ambassadorial deal with Saudi Arabia which commits him to playing World Snooker Tour events in the country.
The Rocket is set to undertake an exhibition tour of China, Finland and Bulgaria next week and says he will look to prioritise big-money offers from the Saudi Arabia and the Far East when planning his playing schedule.
"I'm contracted to do certain events in China,” he said.
“I'm contracted to go to Saudi, so obviously they've got first dibs then it's about spending time at home with the family.
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"It's first come, first served. I'm already signed up for eight or nine tournaments, so if I do really badly in them I might have to dip my toe in and play a few tournaments over here, but probably not.
"I don't just turn up willy-nilly to events, there's a tax to be paid. If people are prepared to pay it, I'll get my cue out of my case. If they're not, I'm content to never ever play again, and move on and do other stuff."
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