RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has told the armchair sceptics and keyboard warriors that he will retire when he feels it is the right time – not what they believe is most appropriate.
The Rocket, 49, has been written off numerous times down the years, with fans often claiming he has lost his edge or is nearing the end of his magical career.
GettyRonnie O’Sullivan will not be playing at the Wuhan Open[/caption]
Speculation over his future intensified at the start of this year when he pulled out of several tournaments and even snapped his beloved cue in half.
Yet this season, with a new cue by his side, he has won five of his seven matches, came within one frame of winning a £500,000 Saudi jackpot and hit TWO 147s in the same match.
The seven-time world champion will not be in China this weekend having pulled out of the Wuhan Open for medical reasons.
The former world No.1 was due to meet Allan Taylor in the opening round on Sunday but he will be replaced in the draw with the leading player from the Q School rankings, Germany’s Umut Dikme.
O’Sullivan is expected to return to the baize for the English Open at the Brentwood Centre, Essex, which starts on September 11.
Whenever he sees unflattering online comments, it makes him try even harder – like it did last week in Jeddah when a message that claims “he’s going to get trounced by (Kyren) Wilson” made him “try a little bit harder”.
Speaking about the calls he often gets for him to quit, O’Sullivan said: “I’ve always said I’d be the first to let you know when I’m done, finished or gone or whatever it is.
“I was getting written off in 2012 and I played probably my best snooker when I won the World Championship.
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“I did say then: ‘Don’t ever question me. I’ll let you know when I’m done.’
“I’m not done. I’m not definitely on a downward curve.
“At my age playing these youngsters, they’re some fantastic players, I’m never going to win like I used to.
“I’m never going to be the favourite for the tournaments. It’s going to be Kyren Wilson, Judd Trump and Zhao Xintong.
“I’m in that bracket behind where if I play well, I’ve got a chance.
“Maybe rely on one of the top guys to not play well or get beaten. Anything can happen, you know.”
Professional player Sunny Akani, the world no.72, has come to O’Sullivan’s rescue this summer and produced a cue that is giving him hope of a decent season on the table.
The Thailand cueist, 29, has provided equipment that the now Dubai-based potter can use for top-level competition.
And O’Sullivan reckons that his name will increase demands globally for Akani’s craftsmanship.
He said: “Anyone that sees what cue I’m using, like a lot of the snooker fans, they say: ‘Well, if Ronnie’s using it, then we want to use it.’
“Cuemaker John Parris always said: ‘75% of my customers ring up and go, can you just make me the same cue as what Ronnie’s got?’
“So, I’m sure Sunny will be busy with his lathe (machine), making cues for a few new customers, you know.”
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