Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Snooker Future in Doubt After Frustrating World Championship Exit: Will The Rocket Retire or Reignite?

There are growing questions about the future of Ronnie O’Sullivan, particularly following his performance at the recent World Snooker Championship. For a time, it seemed uncertain whether the seven-time Crucible champion would compete in Sheffield, especially after his cue-snapping incident in January at the low-profile Championship League, where he last played competitively.

Despite his previous struggles, O’Sullivan did make it to the tournament, much to the relief of fans. However, his journey was marked by frustration. Although he reached the semi-finals, the 49-year-old seemed less than satisfied with his performance, citing both confidence issues and problems with his cue. During his last-four defeat to eventual champion Zhao Xintong, O’Sullivan even resorted to the drastic step of replacing his cue tip mid-match.

O’Sullivan has also been increasingly seen as a pundit in recent years, making regular appearances on Eurosport and TNT Sports. He has offered insights at events he has participated in, and even those he pulled out of, such as the Masters. Despite this, after his World Championship exit, O’Sullivan declined the opportunity to cover the final, telling an interviewer he would be heading home instead.

Although his punditry career seems secure, especially with his strong ties to TNT and his friendship with regular pundit Jimmy White, O’Sullivan’s future in the competitive scene remains uncertain. If his appearances become more sporadic, he risks dropping out of the top 16, which would mean needing to qualify for major events like the UK Championship and the World Championship—and potentially missing the Masters altogether. Given his attitude towards snooker, though, O’Sullivan has made it clear that he’s motivated by enjoyment, not just results. As he puts it, “I don’t have to win tournaments, but I just want to feel like I’m enjoying the game. I’d like to go out with a smile on my face.”