Ronnie O’Sullivan Open to Offers Amid Rumours of Rival Snooker Tour

Snooker superstar Ronnie O’Sullivan has sent shockwaves through the sport by declaring himself open to offers from a potential rival snooker tour. The five-time world champion hinted that he would not hesitate to walk away from the game if he felt his talent was being undervalued.

Rumors have been swirling about a breakaway circuit being established by Far East backers, with top players like O’Sullivan being approached about the possibility of joining. O’Sullivan, fresh off a dominant 10-1 victory in the first round of the World Championship, made it clear that players have the right to explore any lucrative opportunities that come their way.

In a bold statement, O’Sullivan stated, “I’ll go wherever I’m looked after and wherever I feel like I’m valued. For me, I just want to play snooker, I want to have fun, I want to be looked after and pampered. Anyone who wants to pamper me and look after me, I’m your man.”

The World Snooker Tour (WST) has relaxed rules on player contracts following a high-profile dispute last year, allowing players to participate in exhibitions as long as they do not conflict with WST events. The recent partnership between WST and Saudi Arabia has also brought about potentially lucrative opportunities for players.

Meanwhile, in the World Championship, veteran John Higgins secured a hard-fought 10-6 victory over Jamie Jones to advance to the second round. Third seed Judd Trump also impressed with a commanding 6-2 lead in his second-round match against Tom Ford.

As the drama unfolds both on and off the table, the snooker world is bracing for potential changes that could reshape the sport’s landscape. With players like O’Sullivan keeping their options open, the future of snooker remains uncertain but undoubtedly intriguing.