Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals new snooker schedule for rest of season – 'I'm going to give it my best shot'
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/01/2024 at 16:54 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship and Masters this season, but the world No. 1 admits he is not happy with his game despite his stunning trophy success. The seven-time world champion produced some blistering scoring form in a 4-2 win over Pang Junxu in the first round of the World Grand Prix to reach the last 16 at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
‘Quite extraordinary’ - O’Sullivan wraps up eighth Masters title with win over Carter in final
Ronnie O'Sullivan picked up from where he left off at the Masters in London by producing another fine performance in a 4-2 win over Pang Junxu in the first round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester.
Fresh from lifting his record-extending eighth Masters title at Alexandra Palace with a 10-7 win over Ali Carter on Sunday evening, the snooker GOAT rolled in breaks of 111, 70 and 50 in leading 3-0 on Tuesday night, before world No. 31 Pang produced a classy 90 and 105 to close to 3-2 behind.
But O'Sullivan finished with a clinical 95 to reach the last 16 and a meeting with Zhou Yuelong, who completed a 4-1 win over former UK champion Stephen Maguire earlier in the day.
Two-time World Grand Prix winner O'Sullivan has revealed his plans for the rest of the season which are likely to see him sit out the Welsh Open and German Masters.
He will head to Barnsley next Tuesday to face Alfie Burden aiming to secure a last-64 spot in the World Open and a trip to the finals venue in Yushan, China (March 18-24).
He will then return to action at the Players Championship in Telford next month (February 19-26) along with the top 16 on the one-year list.
O'Sullivan also intends to compete in the Tour Championship in Manchester (April 1-7) with the top eight on the one-year list, ahead of the World Championship in Sheffield (April 20-May 6).
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"I'm going to miss quite a few tournaments after this," said O'Sullivan on ITV after his opening win at the World Grand Prix.
"I know I've won tournaments, but I'm not really happy with my game. I shouldn't really have come here. In hindsight, I should have just bowed on this one as well.
"But I'm here now, so I'm going to give it my best shot. I'm going to try to qualify for the China event because I like the China events.
"That will be pretty much be me done. I'll show up for the Players as well because that is quite a decent tournament."
O'Sullivan says he wants to play well rather than win tournaments in a season that has so far seen him lift the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship and Masters.
"The main thing for me is my exhibitions," said O'Sullivan.
"I'm contracted to do 20-25 exhibitions a year and I've got 20-30 days commitments with my sponsors. There's two months there. I just play enough tournaments to get the cue out of the case.
"I'd like to think if I fell off the tour, I might get a wild card...I'm just trying to keep my tour card. I'm not really bothered about winning tournaments.
"Most important thing is doing my exhibitions which I enjoy and fulfilling my ambassador work. That's where I get my most enjoyment.
"I'll take it [winning tournaments], I'm not going to say no to it. But I'm not that bothered really. The most important thing is to play well.
"I'd rather play well, and get beat than play bad and win. "
O'Sullivan faces Zhou on Thursday.
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