July 16th 2024.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is no stranger to success on the snooker table, and now he's setting his sights on conquering the world of pool as well. At 48 years old, he's still at the top of his game, having won five tournaments last season and currently sitting at number five in the world rankings. But while snooker remains his main focus, O'Sullivan is starting to feel the pull of the growing Chinese 8-Ball pool scene.
When asked about his interest in the game, O'Sullivan admitted that he's fascinated by all cue sports and is keeping an eye on the popularity of Chinese 8-Ball in China. It's a huge and thriving scene, and O'Sullivan can't help but be tempted to try his hand at it. In fact, he's not just looking to dabble in the sport, but to become the best in the world at it once he hangs up his snooker cue.
"I definitely want to finish my snooker career first," O'Sullivan shared in an interview with Shanghai Let's Meet. "But after that, maybe in three, four, five, or six years, whenever that may be, I want to give Chinese 8-Ball a go and see if I can win the World Championships and become the best pool player in the world. It would be a new and exciting challenge for me."
O'Sullivan's interest in pool was further piqued this summer when he attended Wimbledon and enjoyed himself immensely. He's not the only snooker player to be drawn to Chinese 8-Ball, with Mark Williams among a handful of players who competed in the Joy Cup World Heyball Masters Grand Finals earlier this year. With a top prize of $700,000, higher than the World Championship at the Crucible, it's no surprise that snooker stars are starting to take notice of the smaller table game.
In fact, Williams has already expressed his intention to play more Chinese 8-Ball this season while continuing to compete on the World Snooker Tour. And O'Sullivan himself has hinted at the possibility of switching to pool, suggesting that it's only the wishes of his sponsors that are keeping him on the snooker table.
"I'm trying to see if there's an appetite for me to go and play pool at some point," O'Sullivan shared during the UK Championship last season, which he went on to win. "I don't want to keep playing snooker against the young guys just for the sake of it. I want to keep playing for the next 10-15 years, earning a living, and having a good time. China is a place I like to go, and pool is a very popular sport there. But ultimately, it's up to my sponsors and what they want me to do."
For O'Sullivan, it's all about keeping his sponsors happy and maintaining a good work-life balance. After all, they are the ones who pay his bills and his salary. If they want him to continue playing snooker, he will. But if they're open to him exploring the world of pool, he would definitely consider it.
"I'd have to get used to the game, but it wouldn't take me long," O'Sullivan added. "To me, it doesn't matter if I'm playing pool, snooker, billiards, or whatever. I just want to have a good life. As long as my sponsors are happy, I'm happy."
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