Ronnie O’Sullivan has suggested he could miss the 2018 World Championships as it clashes with his television work. The 42-year-old is a five-time Crucible winner and needs two more titles to match Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Sheffield wins. However, for all his talent, he has grown increasingly frustrated in recent years and has had no qualms when it comes to talking about his negative attitude towards the sport.
O’Sullivan has won three ranking events in the last two months and is the 6/1 second favourite to win in May, with reigning champion Mark Selby the 10/3 favourite. There could be a spanner in the works though as the Rocket has suggested he may not even attend the Crucible. This is mainly down to his television commitments, as he is due to start filming ‘Hustle’ in Australia in May, meaning his preparations could be compromised by the World Championships, which run until the first Monday of the month. The Rocket admits he would prefer to dedicate himself to his TV show, especially as he says he finds the sport’s biggest tournament tedious.
“Crucible is boring plus I’ve ticked that box five times,” he wrote on social media. “It’s what you experience while on this planet that counts. Making Hustle is a right laugh. Plus I’ve got plenty ranking points so no need to play as much.” Despite doubts over his Crucible participation, O’Sullivan is still likely to defend his Dafabet Masters title in January, a tournament he is the 11/5 favourite to win ahead of the aforementioned Selby, who is available at 9/2.
2018 World Championships and Dafabet Masters odds now available at Dafabet!.