Ronnie O’Sullivan plans to increase tournament schedule
Ronnie O’Sullivan has promised to step up his tournament schedule next season after a notably quiet campaign on the baize, reports BritPanorama.
The Rocket competed in just 10 out of 22 events during the 2025-26 season, resulting in a significant drop to 14th in the world rankings. This marks a notable slide for the seven-time world champion, who will turn 51 later this year and has been a professional for 34 years.
Speaking to SunSport in Reading following his appearance at the Global Snooker 900 Championship, O’Sullivan stated, “I’m going to hopefully play more tournaments next year.” Falling outside the top 16 would pose significant challenges for O’Sullivan, particularly forcing him to qualify for the World Championship instead of receiving automatic entry. However, he appears unfazed by the potential situation.
“I think I’ll be alright with the world ranking,” he said. “If I play alright, if I play to my standard and play enough tournaments, I should be alright.” O’Sullivan acknowledged his struggles in recent months and admitted that he had lacked the motivation to compete. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism moving forward. “I feel like I’m cueing alright now,” he explained. “I feel like I’ve got a good foundation and nearer to finding something that’s good enough to win a tournament.”
O’Sullivan has been dividing his time between the UK and residences in Dubai and Ireland, contributing to his limited presence on the circuit. Looking ahead, he aims to adopt a more strategic approach to his schedule. “So maybe play like four events in the UK, including the World Championship,” he detailed. “Plus all the China and Germany events. Just focus on playing more tournaments next year.”
The 50-year-old recognises the tough competition in today’s game. “It’s not easy now. Obviously, there’s a lot of really good players. You’ve got to really be on it,” he admitted. “Rankings never lie. I am where I am.” O’Sullivan also voiced his dissatisfaction with the excessively lengthy frames witnessed during this year’s World Championship.
The semi-final between eventual champion Wu Yize and Mark Allen featured a frame lasting 100 minutes, which the Rocket found unsatisfactory. “A 100-minute frame? Oh, yeah, that’s awful. I wouldn’t get involved in that,” he scoffed. “I’d have opened them up and said, you can have that one, just get on with the next one.” He has expressed a preference for faster formats, such as the Snooker 900, which incorporates a 20-shot clock and 15-minute frame limits.
As O’Sullivan gears up for his return to a more rigorous schedule, the question remains: can the Rocket reclaim his dominant status in the snooker world, or will he continue to grapple with the demands of a sport that grows ever more competitive?
