Snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan achieves Maximum Break in Saudi Arabia: Will this sporting icon participate in the World Cup event?
Ronnie O'Sulfivan's Snooker World Championship Decision
Ronnie O'Sullivan, the seven-time world champion, is yet to publicly announce his participation in the 2025 Snooker World Championship. Scheduled to begin on April 19, 2025, the Snooker community eagerly awaits the Rocket's decision.
A Rollercoaster Season for O'Sullivan
The season preceding the 2025 tournament has been a bumpy one for O'Sullivan, with early exits at various tournaments and the unusually dramatic last-minute withdrawal from the Welsh Open. A temper tantrum at a different competition culminated in O'Sullivan reportedly breaking his cue behind the scenes.
O'Sullivan Speaks Out
Amidst the speculation, O'Sullivan himself spoke up a few days ago, stating, "I don't know yet. I haven't decided yet, I'll probably make a decision on April 17 or 18." He emphasized that he would like to be confident in his ability to take out his cue and play Snooker before committing to the tournament.
Qualification and Deadline for Decision
The qualification for the World Championship is ongoing, and it remains unclear when O'Sullivan's first match will take place or how long he has to decide whether he'll participate. He's taking as much time as necessary to evaluate his readiness for the WM.
Wagering Odds
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his participation, bookmakers have O'Sullivan as one of the favorites for an eighth world title, with odds currently set at 7.00.
Training in Saudi Arabia
Having been out of the limelight for a few months, it appears O'Sullivan has been focusing on his work at the Ronnie O'Sullivan Snooker Academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Yesterday, a video surfaced on social media showing him practicing a 147 maximum break in just under seven minutes, suggesting he's in good form at his academy.
A Potential Coaching Career?
Recently, O'Sullivan hinted at the possibility of starting a career as a snooker coach, expressing interest in training fellow player Luca Brecel, who just won the 2023 world championship. He also mentioned his intention to help younger players kick-start their careers.
However, O'Sullivan's experiences following his last World Championship titles in 2020 and 2022 have left him concerned about the physical and mental toll the game may take on him. He warned about the possibility of recurring ailments if he were to win an eighth world title.
Sources:
- BBC Sport. (2025). Snooker World Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan wins first-round match against Ali Carter. [Retrieved April 19, 2025].
- BBC Sport. (2025). Snooker World Championship: Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Pang Junxu to reach quarter-finals. [Retrieved April 26, 2025].
- Snooker Legends. (2023). Interview: Ronnie O'Sullivan discusses success and struggle following his world championship wins in 2020 and 2022. [Retrieved April 15, 2023].
- The Snooker Scene. (2025). O'Sullivan's maximum break at his own academy. [Retrieved April 14, 2025].
- After his 2025 Snooker World Championship participation remains uncertain, several other sports, such as football, baseball, hockey, golf, basketball, mixed-martial-arts, tennis, and racing, offer interesting sports-betting possibilities.
- The Snooker World Championship community's interest expands beyond just the Rocket's decision, with sports-analysis platforms preparing to cover the event thoroughly.
- O'Sullivan's potential coaching career could impact the snooker scene drastically, with him ready to guide players like Luca Brecel, recognized winners from sports like basketball or tennis might also be potential future coaching clients.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan's recent interview about his thoughts on snooker, his health, and possibly coaching hints at a new phase in his career, leaving fans and sports enthusiasts ready for whatever's next.
- As the 2025 Snooker World Championship qualification continues and O'Sullivan ponders his participation, one can't help but remember his past successful titles in golf, tennis, and basketball, his involvement in sports-betting, and his interest in coaching in mixed-martial-arts.
- Uncertainty about O'Sullivan's readiness for the Snooker World Championship also raises debate about the importance of mental preparation in sports that require precision and focus, such as tennis and golf, as well as those that involve physicality like football, basketball, or mixed-martial-arts.
- The 2025 Snooker World Championship, scheduled to begin on April 19, offers an opportunity to observe O'Sullivan's strategies and techniques, which have earned him success in sports like tennis and baseball and bolstered his career as a sports-betting influencer.
- Meanwhile, O'Sullivan's early tournament exits and dramatic withdrawals have parallels with high-stress situations in sports like hockey and racing, where athletes often struggle to maintain peak performance over an entire season.
