‘I have done well to get it that close’ – O’Sullivan takes positives from Higgins loss
Video credit: TNT Sports
O’Sullivan has been a fleeting visitor to top-level tournament snooker in recent seasons, and his 2025/26 campaign ended with defeat to John Higgins in the second round of the World Championship.Following his loss to Higgins, O’Sullivan told TNT Sports that he was enjoying his snooker for the first time in over three years.While that was interpreted as O’Sullivan possibly committing to more tournaments in the 2026/27 season, he did caveat things by saying organisers would have to pay him good money in order to make himself available.
Matchroom president Hearn was not drawn on O’Sullivan’s call for big appearance fees, but said he would like to see the 50-year-old playing on tour.
“Ronnie is a legend,” said Hearn, quoted in Metro. “How important was Tiger Woods in golf? Very few players ever brought about the commercial advantages that Tiger did, but their time comes, and I’m just hoping that Ronnie’s this enigma that will be playing when he’s 60. Occasionally, when he feels like it, and good luck to him.
“Let him play when he wants, and the day he wants to play, the doors will always be open.
“I want him to do that [only compete when he wants], because I want him to be happy. If he’s not happy, he’s not the same person, he’s not the same player.”
Hearn was pleased to see O’Sullivan talking positively about the sport, but suggested snooker cannot sit on the shoulders of one man.
“He’s quite happy, I think, I hope,” Hearn said. “But the game has to be strong enough to survive big names, as any sport has over the years, and we will adjust, and we will create other big names.
”Will they get to the stature of Ronnie O’Sullivan? I personally doubt it, but who knows? I don’t know what the future is there. If I knew what the future was, I’d be backing every horse in yesterday’s race.”
‘He has the juice to win this thing’ – McManus urges O’Sullivan to put in the work
Video credit: TNT Sports
Mark Williams and Higgins turned professional in the same year as O’Sullivan in 1992, and all three are still going strong.
Higgins remains in the hunt for a fifth Crucible crown, he is up against Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals, and Hearn is thrilled that players who turned professional 34 years ago are competing with the young stars.
“Mark Williams is still there, John Higgins is still there, Ronnie, the great Ronnie,” Hearn said. “These people are legends.
“I mean, what other sport’s got 50-year-olds playing at the standard they’re playing, taking on the teenagers, and coming through strong?”
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Championship, live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
