• Snooker

Hearn tells O'Sullivan to buck up or quit

ESPN staff
April 7, 2011
Barry Hearn believes Ronnie O'Sullivan has "fallen out of love with snooker" © Getty Images
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Snooker chief Barry Hearn has told Ronnie O'Sullivan to retire after claiming he has "fallen out of love with snooker".

O'Sullivan has slumped to No. 10 in the world rankings ahead of next week's World Championship, and the World Snooker chairman admits the former world No. 1 may never rediscover his form and has told the troubled star to retire if his heart is no longer in the sport.

"Ronnie is at a crossroads and has to make a move one way or the other," Hearn said in The Sun. "I've told him to retire if he feels that bad. Or take a couple of years off.

"I think Ronnie has fallen out of love with snooker; he has had a lot of personal pressures during the year. I hope we can get the real Ronnie O'Sullivan back - but I'm not confident."

O'Sullivan has withdrawn from this season's Shanghai Masters and German Masters at the last-minute and Hearn has warned the three-time world champion that he cannot pull out of tournaments at the 11th hour.

"I need the real Ronnie O'Sullivan. If the real Ronnie O'Sullivan's not there, I don't need him at all. I don't need him pulling out of tournaments the day before. That's won't be happening again," Hearn said.

"There's a laid down punishment in the rules now. It's three strikes and you're out. He's a couple of strikes down."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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