28 November 2023 , 20:05
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Snooker superstar Ronnie O’Sullivan has refused to hold peace talks with the sport’s authorities.
The Rocket, 47, is currently embroiled in disciplinary proceedings with bosses after being referred to governing body the WPBSA for a scathing attack on the World Snooker Tour (WST) last month. World No.1 O’Sullivan last week revealed he could quit the game if he isn’t allowed to fulfil lucrative personal commitments in China.
WST are offering face-to-face meetings for players to air their grievances about the running of the sport at this week’s UK Championship.
But O’Sullivan, who kicked off his bid for an eighth UK title with a 6-2 victory over qualifier Anthony McGill, revealed: “I’ve not spoken to anyone at World Snooker for 10 years and I won’t reach out to them ever again.
“I just know the culture and it’s not for me. I just want to run my own ship. They want to focus on 130 players, which is great, good luck to all the players. But not all the players have the opportunities that I’ve got.
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“I just can’t fit in with an organisation who just want you to be the same as everyone else, it’s just not going to work for me. I wish I could just focus on the tournaments. Golfers have good sponsors and big prize money for all the events.
“But for me, sharing a slice of the cake with 130 players when I go to China or other parts of the world, and they’re paying 10 or 15 times as much as I get to play here, I won’t do that. I don’t want to completely turn my back on snooker, but I have to secure the lives of my kids, my family and my other half.”
Ronnie O'Sullivan is aiming for his eighth UK title (PA)O’Sullivan feels under-appreciated by bosses after being the face of the sport for three decades. And the seven-time world champion wants the ability to cash in with big-money exhibitions, which players' contracts can restrict.
It’s the latest episode in the player-power saga which erupted last month when the ‘Macau 5’ - Mark Selby, John Higgins, Luca Brecel, Ali Carter and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh - were threatened with disciplinary action when they snubbed the Northern Ireland Open for an unsanctioned event in China, which was subsequently rescheduled for December to avoid a clash.
“I’ve done a lot of good for this game, I’d expect someone to come out and say, ‘You’ve done great for the game and given a lot to the game’, " added O’Sullivan.
“But I never get a well done letter saying the viewing figures are great or, ‘We’ve all earned brilliant salaries and the sponsors are coming in and it’s thanks to you’. All I get is a letter saying I’ve done this wrong and that wrong.”
Meanwhile, three-time UK winner John Higgins kickstarted his charge for the £250,000 top prize with a 6-3 victory over Joe O’Connor.