O’Sullivan hints at retirement after 2028 World Championship
Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he could retire from snooker after the 2028 World Championship if he is unable to solve the technical problems threatening to derail the final years of his glittering career, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time world champion, now 50, continues to be one of snooker’s biggest attractions. However, his recent performances have left him frustrated, even as he achieved three consecutive victories at the Wuhan Open.
O’Sullivan reached the quarter-finals in China after defeating Stephen Maguire in the last 16, setting the stage for a highly anticipated match against four-time world champion Mark Selby. Despite this progress, O’Sullivan has downplayed his chances of winning, describing his form as “hit-and-hope snooker.”
“I was happy to win a match,” O’Sullivan admitted following his victory over Maguire. “Then I won two matches, I was over the moon. To win three for me is a miracle at the moment, so I have probably gone as far as I can go now,” he stated.
He openly acknowledged his technical issues, stating, “My game is just very, very poor. I’m not playing to a good enough level. My technique is just so rubbish. I don’t have a clue where the balls are going.” This bleak self-assessment follows a retirement deadline he established during last month’s Shanghai Masters.
O’Sullivan assessed that his problems may be too ingrained to rectify at this stage in his career. “I don’t really have much hope to regain the kind of level I was at before,” he remarked. “I’ll give myself 18 months maybe, until the end of the 2028 World Championships, to see if I can get somewhere back to how I used to hit the ball.”
His last major title came in January 2024 when he defeated Judd Trump in the World Grand Prix final. O’Sullivan’s most recent World Championship victory occurred in 2022, where he equalled Stephen Hendry’s modern-era record by clinching the title against Trump at the Crucible.
As O’Sullivan contemplates the future, the world of snooker watches with bated breath. The Rocket’s journey, laden with talent and fluctuating form, continues to unfold, reminding fans and critics alike how even the most decorated sports personalities face their trials. The game remains richer for his presence, capturing not just the victories but the enduring human struggle at its heart.
