Fellow ‘Class of 92’ member Mark Williams has given his verdict on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s participation at the World Snooker Championship after the Rocket’s troubled season
Mark Williams doubts the carrot of £500,000 top prize will be enough to motivate Ronnie O’Sullivan to grace the World Snooker Championship. The seven-time world champion hasn’t played competitively since smashing his cue in anger at the low-key Championship League in January.
The 49-year-old then pulled out of the Masters, where he had been due to defend his title, and was criticised by fans for his late withdrawal from the Welsh Open. That prompted a public apology from the Essex potter.
While he has been named on the official entry list, it is unclear whether he will play at the Crucible. Old rival Williams, the three-time world champion, suspects O’Sullivan won’t play in Sheffield.
“Look, I don’t know what the situation is, but if I were to have a guess now, I’d probably say he’s not going to play. I don’t know, I’m just guessing,” Williams, who recently turned 50, told the Metro.
Williams doesn’t believe O’Sullivan will be motivated by the prospect of going ahead of Stephen Hendry on eight world titles and the huge top prize at the Crucible. He added: “He’s pulled out of the last tournaments, so obviously he’s not ready or doesn’t want to play.
“And he’s not going to play in the Worlds for £500,000 to the winner or to take over Hendry’s mantle. I don’t really think he’s worried about that stuff.
“I know you boys [the media] put it on him that he wants to be past Hendry on eight world titles, but I honestly don’t think he’s worried about stuff like that.”
O’Sullivan’s inactivity meant he didn’t qualify for the recent Players Championship or the Tour Championship in Manchester, which begins on Monday. Williams, who beat the Rocket in last year’s final, will begin his Tour Championship title defence against Ding Junhui.
The Welsh Potting Machine will use contact lenses due to his deteriorating eyesight. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Williams said: “I’m just taking it a few days at a time. I’m going to stick with these contacts now for the Tour Championship.
“I don’t know how they’re going to react with the lights, I’m hoping they won’t be too much of a problem. If I’m playing OK with them, I’ll keep them in for the World Championship and see where I go after there.
“The contacts are helping out at the minute. They hurt when they’re in but I might just get used to them. It can’t get any worse than the Players because I couldn’t see much.”
