Ronnie O’Sullivan Eyes Crucible Return After Hiatus

Snooker star Ronnie O’Sullivan may skip this year’s World Championship. The seven-time world champion has never missed the event since his 1993 debut. At 49, he’s struggling with poor form that puts his future in doubt.

O’Sullivan’s recent play hasn’t matched his usual high standards. His last ranking event was November’s UK Championship, where he lost early. In January, he broke his cue in frustration after losing to Robert Milkins. Since then, he’s pulled out of several tournaments, including the Masters, for medical reasons.

He’s back practicing but still unsure about playing at the Crucible. O’Sullivan told the Daily Mail he’ll decide just three days before the event starts. “If my game doesn’t get better, it won’t be good,” he said. “I’m not quitting yet, but I’m giving myself two years to improve. I want to enjoy my final playing years.”

The snooker great doubts he’ll ever return to top form. “I’m probably damaged goods now,” he admitted. “The years have taken their toll.” He especially regrets breaking his cue, calling it the result of four years of frustration. “It wasn’t about losing,” he explained. “It was about playing poorly. The constant struggle got to me.”

O’Sullivan called his recent matches “painful to play.” He even tried playing left-handed to find his form again. Technical changes made things worse instead of better. “I could see my mistakes on TV but couldn’t correct them,” he said. “I hated watching myself play.”

He believes his issues are physical, not mental. They started six years ago when he changed his technique seeking perfection. “I wrecked my game by chasing perfection,” O’Sullivan said. This rare confession shows the human side of one of snooker’s best players.

The snooker world waits to see if O’Sullivan will play. His absence would be historic. Whether this is just a rough patch or the start of his career’s end remains unclear. Fans hope to see “The Rocket” back in top form soon.