Ronnie O’Sullivan says he’s more appreciated in Asia as he eyes Hong Kong snooker event
- ‘In the UK, I don’t seem to get the same support as I do here,’ the world No 1 says on trip to Hong Kong to promote his return to the city in March
- Having previously said Chinese events ‘pay me 10 to 15 times more’, O’Sullivan also praises the country’s venues and the ‘unbelievable support’ he receives
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Snooker’s world No 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan said he felt more appreciated in Asia than in his native UK, as he looked forward to his return to Hong Kong early next year for the All-Star Challenge.
The seven-time world champion, appearing in the city on Saturday to promote March’s event, paid his latest glowing tribute to Chinese tournaments, contrasting them with British equivalents that he said were often underwhelming.
“Some of the tournaments in the UK don’t feel special,” O’Sullivan said. “So for me, I want to play in the best tournaments, with the best crowds, best venues.
“I feel like I get more support, and people like me better, here in Asia than they do in my own country. So if you like me, it makes me feel good, so I come and play here more. In the UK, I don’t seem to get the same support as I do here.”
Since his triumph at the Hong Kong Masters in October last year, O’Sullivan has taken part in exhibition events in mainland China before winning the Shanghai Masters for a fourth successive time in September. He is also playing in the Wynn Presents 2023 Macau Snooker Masters over Christmas.
O’Sullivan last month admitted that tournaments in China “pay me 10 to 15 times more”, but he added on Saturday that the “unbelievable support” he received in the region made such trips memorable.
“When I was younger, I didn’t care much,” the 48-year-old said. “But at my age, I want to be around a nice environment and nice people – it means more.”
Having hinted at retirement on multiple occasions, O’Sullivan said he was looking forward to life after snooker but “doesn’t know” when that will be.
“If I started to lose regularly, then maybe that’s the time to forget snooker and then enjoy a different life,” he said.
Upon making history last month when he triumphed at the UK Championship for a record eighth time – 30 years after he won his first – O’Sullivan had raised some eyebrows by calling out “boring” snooker players. And the Rocket insisted that playing “without style” was not for him.
“Whether that’s football, tennis or golf, I’d like to watch [Lionel] Messi, [Roger] Federer and [Tiger] Woods,” he said. “If you’re going to play golf, try to play like Tiger. You might not be as good as him, but at least try to play in an exciting way.
“When people don’t play the game the right way, it’s not good for any sport. Everyone loves Woods and Federer because of their style. The more people that can play like that, the better it is for people to watch.”
Echoing the man with 40 ranking titles was Jack Lisowski, the world No 16, who is still searching for his first but plays an attractive brand of snooker.
Set to play in Hong Kong for the first time, Lisowski believes it can be a beautiful game or a boring one.
“I just try to play attacking snooker,” the 32-year-old said. “People have to want to watch it, and it has to entertain people – no one’s going to watch people taking 30 seconds for a shot.
“Ronnie is the best ever, so you’ve got to listen to what he says. He plays the game that way, and obviously he’s the most popular player, so it works.
“If everyone played like that, I think the sport would be much bigger.”
