As I am sure that you will all be well aware by now, World Snooker have today announced that four-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has informed them of his intention not to compete on the main tour for the remainder of this season. Click below for more thoughts on the news…
Today’s announcement means that Ronnie looks set to miss out on tournaments such as the UK Championship, Masters and even the defence of his World Championship crown at the Crucible.
Having stated his intention to take a break from the game over the summer, Ronnie had intended to return to action at the recent International Championship (a PTC cameo in Gloucester aside), but later announced his decision to withdraw from the tournament just days before its start.
The next tournament on his agenda was then the upcoming UKPTC4 event at the South West Snooker Academy, before his return the big stage at the UK Championship in York. Now though it would appear that he has decided to take a far longer break, citing ‘personal issues’ for his continued absence.
For me it has been interesting over the last few years to observe the evolving attitude of those both within and outside of the sport when Ronnie has decided to miss events. It is probably fair to say that many have become rather cynical to the reasons for his absences, though ultimately without having the first idea as to what is going on behind the scenes. 
Personally I am very much of the view that O’Sullivan has the right to enter whichever events he chooses to. I would not criticise him or any other player for failing to enter an event, particularly one at the stage of his career that he is now at and having effectively won everything that there is to win in the game.
On the flip side, it does become a problem when players, in particular one of Ronnie’s standing, decides to enter tournament, only to later withdraw from the events at short notice. Not only does this affect the drawsheets, meaning that others have missed out on a higher seeding, but also it is ultimately not meeting the expectations of the fans who have paid their money expecting to see him play, having entered the event.
That said, it must also be noted that the entry deadlines for tournaments are now coming earlier and earlier, as demonstrated by the fact that the deadline for next year’s World Championship comes next week, some five months before the event [EDIT: It appears as though that particular deadline may in fact be a little later]. For someone in O’Sullivan’s position, it is very difficult for him to be able to plan that far in advance which tournaments he wants to play in and make that commitment.
I think that it is probably sensible that Ronnie has made his intentions clear at this stage (both for him and everybody else), and it will be interesting to see whether he remains in the draws for tournaments that he has already entered this season, leaving the door open for him to change his mind as the season progresses.
The announcement does of course beg the longer-term question as to whether we will again see Ronnie O’Sullivan in action on the main tour, or whether this could really be the end of a glittering career.
On the face of it, if Ronnie were to miss the remainder of this season and perhaps drop down to the lower reaches of the top 32, with a significant number of points to defend in 2013/14 following his strong 2011/12 season, it would look to be some way back for someone at his stage of his career. Would he have the patience to play in one, maybe two qualifiers for each major tournament, with no hope of a regaining a top 16 place until potentially 2014 or 2015?
What could change things however, is the planned change to a money based ranking system in 2014/15, together with flatter draws for tournaments, meaning less qualifying matches. If everyone were to come in at the first round for example, with the prospect of even one major title assuring a player of a high ranking for another two years, it would make the prospect of a comeback all that more appealing and ultimately realistic.
Ultimately it is up to Ronnie and time will tell, but if he wants to, he will still be young enough to compete in one, two or three years time and somehow I cannot believe that we have seen the last of him on our screens just yet.
World Snooker Statement
World Snooker has been informed that Ronnie O’Sullivan does not intend to compete on the World Snooker Tour for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “I have spoken to Ronnie and he has decided to withdraw from any events he has entered, and he will not be playing for the rest of this season. He has some personal issues which he needs to resolve and we wish him all the best for the future.”
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12 comments
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Mike S
November 6, 2012 at 8:07 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
He might end up just outside the top 32 at the end of the season. Although in the past 36000 points would comfortably ensure a top 32 place, there have been two extra full ranking events this season and in the latest rankings 36000 is only just enough for a top 32 place.
If he is ranked just outside the top 32 and enters some of the early events next season he could of course still be seeded in the top 32, as there may be absentees (as there were this year). Good runs in Wuxi and/or Australia would probably get him back into the top 32 at the first cut-off since he has no points to defend from the Australian event in 2011. Since he’s got quite a few points to defend from the 2011 PTCs he would probably have to enter most of those and also do very well in both the International Open and the UK Championships in to have any chance of getting back into the top 16 by the December cut-off next year. (I’m assuming here that the calendar will be similar to this year’s.)
It is of course possible that he will enter only a handful of events next season and rely on winning a couple of majors to get into the top 16 on the money list for the start of the following season.
wild
November 9, 2012 at 3:57 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
cant see him entering the Aussie open
zabaks
November 6, 2012 at 8:49 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Regarding his season ending ranks, he is at approx 37.500 points, 29th by now, but other fellas will keep playing and push him out of top 32.
Other sports have seen remarkable comebacks, but those were never made by somebody who was never fully commited to be a part of that particular sport…
zabaks
November 6, 2012 at 9:22 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
just in case, if u r not sure what the whole mess is about
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
snookerthailand.net
November 7, 2012 at 1:55 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
The rankings will not be such a problem for Ronnie . The only problem will be returning to the snooker table to train hard again.And I think for the moment mentally he can not do this sacrifice.And the longer you stay away from the snooker table and out of tournaments the more harder it will be to return.In my opinion he will not return anymore which is a pity . But he has won all what he could win he do not have to prove anything anymore . And as long as Ronnie will not find the fun and the hunger for the snookerballs back he will not return which i understand.Just a pity that such a great player leave in this way. There is never a good moment to stop . When he had stopped after the world championships people would not be happy as well.Whatever he decide thanks for all this beautiful sportive moments and good luck to Ronnie. There are more beautiful moments in life outside snooker too.
Armbrust
November 7, 2012 at 5:55 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I think if everyone were to come in at the first round, than the top 16 ranking would become less important. It will only decide, who will be invited to the Masters.
Claus
November 7, 2012 at 7:21 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Awful news. I hope he somehow gets back in fighting spirit but he obviously needs to focus on his problems. I did not expect that.
Get well soon Ronnie.
wild
November 7, 2012 at 8:55 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
matt
( slightly off topic)
do you think china will go for flatter draws meaning Ding could miss out on trips to china ?
we already know how insistent they are with wild cards to get locals in the draw …how would potentially no ding go down with them ?
matt2745
November 7, 2012 at 8:00 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
It’s a good question, certainly doesn’t seem to be a suggestion of it at the moment. That said, Hearn’s comments at the Crucible on the subject were interesting. Though I would say that because I asked the question!
wild
November 9, 2012 at 4:02 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
what did hearn say ?
Paul Norris
November 8, 2012 at 6:09 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I think it’s a real shame that Ronnie couldn’t carry on for 3 or 4 more years, as that’s about all he’s got left at the top anyway. After that, its naturally down hill all the way and an early retirement, such as Hendry’s, would be understandable by then, as he would be struggling to compete consistently at the highest level (If other top players are anything to go by). At 37 years old and currently good enough to still win more World and UK titles, Ronnie has blown his only chance of equalling Davis’ 6 World and UK’s, Hendry’s 5 UK’s and centuries record and even, a real outside shot I know, but maybe 7 World titles? After a year out, even if Ronnie missed the game and decided to return, he’d take time getting back to such a high standard. More than likely, that’s the last we’ve seen of him competing in pro tournaments. A sad, sad day.
Andre
November 8, 2012 at 7:26 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
It really is a sad day yeah, and like you say Ronnie has a missed a golden oppurtunity to win more titles this season cause he hasn’t many more years left at the top anyway. Dont think he would equal Davi’s titles of UK and Worlds, let alone 7 Worlds… I reckon he could win 1 more Worlds, but for me that would still be a long shot cos it took him 4 years since 2004 to win another and I reckon he would have to have that amount of time again to win another, which would be virtually impossible when you consider he would be 40 by then. Of course all this is speculation, and he could win again next year… I reckon he could equal Hendry’s 5 UK titles… that for me would be the most plausible… and yeah maybe surpass Hendry’s record of centuries..
Don’t think he will be back as you say.