Ronnie O’Sullivan at odds with snooker star as Kyren Wilson aims darts jibe
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan critiqued the Masters venue long before pulling out of this year’s competition, but not everyone on the sport’s circuit feels the same
The 2026 Masters has kicked off at Alexandra Palace, but Ronnie O’Sullivan is noticeably absent. ‘The Rocket’ withdrew from the competition on medical grounds at the last minute on Friday, paving the way for Chris Wakelin to make a surprise late entry.
Alexandra Palace (or Ally Pally) has hosted the tournament since 2012, and it takes place just a week after the World Darts Championship concludes. This scheduling clash clearly doesn’t sit well with some players, with Kyren Wilson expressing his dislike for the clean-up operation once the darts fans have left.
However, not everyone shares this sentiment, and Xiao Guodong seems to have taken a shine to the venue following his first visit. The Chinese star caused an upset by beating Mark Selby 6-2 in his Masters debut when the competition got underway on Sunday.
Xiao had nothing but praise for Ally Pally and expressed his fondness for the tournament afterwards. Speaking after his victory over Selby, the 36-year-old said: “The venue is good, the people watching are good and everything is perfect.”
This is in stark contrast to O’Sullivan’s assessment in 2024 after defeating Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals. And the cue icon didn’t hold back in giving his honest appraisal regarding the shared venue.
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“I just don’t like this place. I find it disgusting,” he declared two years ago. “Everywhere is dirty.
“It’s cold. It’s freezing, I have to wear my coat everywhere. You go through car parks. There are bins. Honestly, it just makes me feel ill. I’m a bit of a clean freak and when I come in here it gives me the heebie-jeebies. I just can’t wait to get out of here.”
O’Sullivan has withdrawn from each of the last two editions of the tournament due to medical reasons since making those comments. Despite his record eight Masters titles from 14 final appearances, a return doesn’t appear imminent.
Wilson may understand O’Sullivan’s concerns about standards at Alexandra Palace. The world No. 2 begins his campaign against Si Jiahui on Tuesday, days after suggesting the venue still bears the scars of the World Darts Championship.
“The Masters is a real showpiece event now for snooker, but it is hard for players to settle in there,” he recently told 247Bet. “It’s quite unique in terms of a playing environment. It’s hard wading through all those empty beer barrels that all of the darts fans have gone through.”
Despite some calling for a venue change, Wilson believes the tournament should remain at its current home. That’s despite having to put up with certain hangover effects lingering after the World Darts Championship.
“When something isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” he continued. “So whilst the Masters is still growing in numbers at the Ally Pally, we should just leave it where it is, because it’s becoming recognised by people as the home of the Masters.”
The competition’s fourth seed has appeared in two Masters finals, including last year’s 10-7 defeat to Shaun Murphy. He’ll be hoping to go one step further this time and finally claim the trophy that has so far escaped him, empty beer barrels and all.
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