Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals conditions for playing snooker events after withdrawing from Welsh Open over ‘stage fright’
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has revealed the conditions for Snooker event to book him to play.
It comes after O’Sullivan withdrew from the Welsh Open owing to “stage fright” earlier this month.
O’Sullivan, 48, is scheduled to participate in the Riyadh Season World Masters next month – though he is yet to practice the new “Golden Ball” rule the event is implementing.
And he appears to have suggested he will continue to snub tournaments in favour of more lucrative events in the Middle East and Asia.
Speaking to BBC Wales, O’Sullivan said: “It’s kind of first-come-first-served with tournaments and promoters.
“If they definitely want me in the event, then they have to approach me and seal that deal.
“There’s only so many tournaments I can play in, and the Far East and Asia is where all the big events are. I get looked after out there.
“If I was to play them and not do so well then I’d maybe do a few more UK events, but with all the travelling, it’s hard for me to do everything.
“I need to have a bit more of a breather, especially as I’m getting nearer 50.
“I don’t really want anything. I’ve set my stall out. I’ve got my sponsors, the work that I do and my exhibitions. I’m kind of tied up.
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“I know where I’m going for the next four or five years. And then I just try to fit in whatever snooker I can on the main tour.
“It’s such a tough, tough tour that I don’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.
“I just play in as many events as I possibly can, and hopefully I keep my ranking so I don’t have to go back to Q School!”
O’Sullivan will turn his attention to the Crucible after the Riyadh masters, where he is hunting a record eighth-world snooker title.
The Rocket saw a 16-game unbeaten run obliterated with a 6-0 defeat to Mark Selby in the Players Championships last week.