Snooker Legend Stephen Hendry Voices Concerns Over Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Tournament Withdrawals

In a recent podcast appearance, seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry expressed his thoughts on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s string of tournament withdrawals. O’Sullivan, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the sport’s history, has been noticeably absent from several major ranking events since November.

The ‘Rocket’ missed the Masters, German Masters, and most recently, the Welsh Open. While he is scheduled to play in the World Open qualifiers in China this Sunday, doubts persist about his participation.

Hendry, speaking on the Snooker Club podcast, admitted he would be shocked if O’Sullivan didn’t play in China, given his popularity there. However, he also acknowledged the potential impact of O’Sullivan’s cue-smashing incident and speculated whether the 49-year-old might be solely focused on the World Championship at this stage in his career.

“Part of me thinks, ‘Is he just going to play in the World Championship? Is that the goal now? Is that the game for the season, the plan?'” Hendry pondered. He emphasized that O’Sullivan’s absence undoubtedly affects the tournaments he misses.

Hendry also questioned whether O’Sullivan’s competitive drive has diminished, suggesting he may prefer playing exhibitions and doing punditry without the pressure of competition. “I think maybe he prefers just playing exhibitions, prefers doing a bit of punditry, and having no sort of expectation of pressure,” Hendry said.

The snooker legend hesitated to say it but admitted it would be a shame if fans never saw O’Sullivan play in a tournament again. In a statement explaining his Welsh Open withdrawal, O’Sullivan cited the need to prioritize his health and wellbeing, apologizing to fans who bought tickets expecting to see him play.

As the snooker world awaits O’Sullivan’s next move, Hendry’s comments underscore the significance of the ‘Rocket’s’ presence in the sport and the void left by his absences. Whether O’Sullivan will return to the tournament circuit with renewed vigor or continue to prioritize his well-being remains to be seen.

Key Takeaways:

• Snooker great Stephen Hendry expressed concern over Ronnie O’Sullivan’s recent tournament withdrawals
• O’Sullivan has missed several major ranking events since November, including the Masters, German Masters, and Welsh Open
• Hendry speculated that O’Sullivan might be focusing solely on the World Championship at this stage in his career
• The seven-time world champion questioned whether O’Sullivan’s competitive drive has diminished, suggesting he may prefer exhibitions and punditry
• O’Sullivan cited the need to prioritize his health and wellbeing when explaining his Welsh Open withdrawal
• Hendry admitted it would be a shame if fans never saw O’Sullivan play in a tournament again, underscoring the ‘Rocket’s’ significance in the sport