RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has admitted he just can’t see himself retiring, even though he knows the end is near.
The seven-time world champ, 49, says he’s starting to feel the wear and tear but isn’t quite ready to put his cue away for good.
GettyRonnie O’Sullivan is a seven time world champion but even he knows his time is almost up[/caption]
GettyKyren Wilson won the World Snooker Championship in 2024[/caption]
2019 champion Judd Trump is another star that has caught Ronnie’s attentionShutterstock Editorial
Zhao Xintong was the surprise winner of this year’s World Snooker
Speaking to Daily Star Sport, The Rocket revealed : “I thought I’d retire at 35 — I’m 49 now! I’ve done an extra 14 years more than I thought.
“The last time I played in Saudi, I proved I can still mix it with the top players.”
But the snooker icon also confessed that he’s been cutting back on extras like exhibition matches and long-haul travel to conserve energy.
He said: “I’m getting worn out. So I’ve cut all the other bits and pieces out.
“Retirement? It’s kind of hard for some people. I can’t ever see myself retiring. I just need to find things to keep me busy.”
He’s also backing Pluto Snooker 900, the world’s first 24/7 dedicated snooker channel — launching Monday, October 6.
Still, he knows the clock is ticking. “There’ll come a point when it’s embarrassing, and that’s when you put the cue down.”
Despite still playing at the top level, Ronnie reckons the next generation has already overtaken the sport’s older legends.
He added: “There are a lot of really good 45-year-olds — John Higgins is 49, Mark Williams is 49, round it up and say 50. But not many of them can compete at a very, very high level anymore.
RYDER CUP 2025 BETTING TIPS, FREE BETS AND LATEST ODDS
“They just can’t keep up with Judd Trump, Zhao Xingtong, and Kyren Wilson. Those three are a cut above.”
Zhao, 28, beat Ronnie on his way to winning the World Championship this year in what many saw as a passing of the torch moment.
Ronnie added: “I think Zhao has an amazing future. He’ll win loads more titles and definitely be world No1 one day.”
As he edges closer to the end of an incredible career, The Rocket is turning his attention to growing the game.
He’s fronting Pluto Snooker 900, which will stream for free on Pluto TV, with over £600,000 in prize money pledged for amateur players over the next 12 months.
The channel will feature 18 hours of live snooker each week, along with classic archive matches and Ronnie’s Rocket Method coaching series.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
