Ronnie O’Sullivan makes major Crucible decision as seven-time world champion discovers first round opponent
Ronnie O’Sullivan has decided he WILL play at the World Snooker Championship – and will face old foe Ali Carter in the first round on Tuesday.
The record seven-time world champion admitted a fortnight ago he had not yet made up his mind on whether he would make his 33rd consecutive Crucible appearance, having not played in a tournament since January.
However, Mail Sport understands O’Sullivan has now decided to make his competitive comeback in Sheffield.
The 49-year-old is set to appear at the traditional pre-tournament media day at the Crucible on Friday before his match against Carter on Tuesday.
On his chances of winning an eighth world crown, O’Sullivan recently told Mail Sport: ‘If I was to go to Sheffield, I’d be happy with just winning a match.
‘I think that’d be a good result for me. If I got one win, I’d be over the moon.’
Ronnie O’Sullivan has decided he will play the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible
The record seven-time world champion has not competed in a tournament since January
O’Sullivan has not competed in a tournament since snapping his cue in anger at the Champions League in Leicester in January.
Addressing his chances of playing at the Crucible when asked by Mail Sport a fortnight ago, he said: ‘If you’d asked me three days ago, I’d have said, “100 per cent I’m playing”, because I found something, and I was like, “Wow, I’m hitting the ball good”.
‘The confidence came back and it lasted for three days, and I was like, “Oh yeah, I fancy it”. But then the last two days, it’s gone downhill. It seems to be one step forward, two steps back.
’As I sit here, it’s highly unlikely I’ll play in the World Championship. But I’ve got some practice sessions booked in with a very, very good player who is in the top 16 on April 14th, 15th and 16th. So I’m going to give myself until that very last practice session to just see where my game is at.
‘If I think, “You know what, it’s all right”, I’ll probably play. But if it’s like it is today, it’s just not going to be pretty for me.
‘Obviously, I snapped my cue and I’m still trying to find a cue I’m comfortable with, which I haven’t yet been able to do.
O’Sullivan has been drawn to face Ali Carter in the first round of the World Championships
‘I’d love to be back playing. I really, really would. Pulling out of tournaments ain’t good for me. It’s not what I want to be doing. I want to be out there competing.
‘The last three or four weeks I’ve been practising a hell of a lot. But at the start of the season I was getting scared to go near the practice table and getting scared to get my cue out of my case.
‘I got to the end of my tether with my game. Now I’m just focusing on getting that fixed because if I don’t get that fixed, there are no tournaments.’
