Ronnie O’Sullivan can retire and continue to sell his cookbook if he wants, slams snooker chief Barry Hearn
BARRY HEARN has given Ronnie O’Sullivan his blessing if he wants to quit snooker and sell cookbooks.
The Rocket, 43, has threatened never to play the World Snooker Championships again.
The world No1 gave an interview this month to promote his new health book and said he might skip the Triple Crown events as he scales down his playing schedule.
Hearn, the World Snooker chairman, laughed off the retirement threat and said he doesn’t care if the star player calls it quits.
Hearn, 70, said: “I’ve given up watching Ronnie O’Sullivan, to be honest. Was he promoting his book?
“Perhaps he needed a headline, and that is a good headline.
“I wish him well with his book and I hope he makes a lot of money and one day I'll eat his food.
“I've no idea if he’ll play at the Crucible. It doesn’t change my life.
“I’m dealing with real people who want to entertain and change their life. If Ronnie is happy doing something else I'm so happy for him.
“You get a little bit softer as you get older and aggravation with anybody is out of my window, I can’t be bothered with it. Go away, be happy, do whatever you like.
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"This will be the 17th time Ronnie has retired and maybe it is the real one, who knows?
“Judd Trump rules the world now, the King is dead, long live the King.
“Ronnie is a great player, I would miss him on the circuit, but I don’t want an unhappy Ronnie on the circuit. If he’s happy selling his cookbooks then good look to him.”
