Barry Hearn has come to the defense of Ronnie O’Sullivan after the snooker legend withdrew from The Masters tournament and urged fellow players to fill the void in his absence.
O’Sullivan, an eight-time Masters champion, pulled out of the prestigious event just days before it was set to begin due to health reasons, marking another instance of tournament withdrawals in the past year. Despite expectations of his participation, O’Sullivan opted out of competing in London.
Hearn dismissed claims that O’Sullivan is solely driven by money and emphasized that it is up to other players to entertain fans when the renowned player is not available.
Speaking on the BBC’s Framed podcast, Hearn stated, “I don’t believe Ronnie is solely motivated by money; that’s unfair to him. Ronnie operates on his own terms, setting exceptionally high standards. He is a unique talent, a genius in the sport, and it’s unlikely we will see another player like him in our lifetime. While he plays at his discretion, he has earned the right to make those decisions.”
Acknowledging fans’ disappointment when O’Sullivan is absent, Hearn reiterated the need for other players to step up and shine outside of O’Sullivan’s shadow.
Hearn added, “Fans and remaining players must grasp the responsibility to fill the void left by the great Ronnie. Snooker thrives with a player like him, and ideally, we need several Ronnie O’Sullivans to enrich the sport’s landscape. The emergence of such talents, regardless of nationality, will be intriguing to witness.”
Highlighting O’Sullivan’s immense contribution to the sport, Hearn expressed that while O’Sullivan’s absence will be felt, the primary concern is O’Sullivan’s well-being and happiness in whatever endeavors he pursues.