Barry Hearn has come to the defense of Ronnie O’Sullivan after the snooker legend opted out of The Masters, urging his fellow players to rise to the occasion in his absence.
O’Sullivan, a renowned eight-time Masters champion, withdrew from the prestigious event just days before its commencement due to health reasons. Despite having skipped several tournaments in the past year, his participation at the London event was anticipated.
Hearn dismissed claims that O’Sullivan is solely driven by financial motives and challenged other players to captivate audiences in the absence of the 50-year-old maestro.
Expressing his views on the BBC’s Framed podcast, Hearn remarked, “I don’t believe Ronnie is solely money-driven; that’s unjust. Ronnie plays on his own terms, setting exceptionally high standards. He is a unique talent, likely a once-in-a-lifetime player. While someone may eventually surpass him, for now, he plays when he chooses, and he has earned that right.”
Acknowledging fans’ disappointment at O’Sullivan’s absence, Hearn emphasized the importance of other players stepping up to fill the void left by the snooker icon.
He added, “Fans and remaining players must grasp this responsibility of stepping into the limelight vacated by the great man. Snooker thrives on figures like Ronnie O’Sullivan, and ideally, we need multiple similar figures in the sport’s future.”
Hearn expressed optimism about potential successors emerging but emphasized the massive impact O’Sullivan has had on snooker. He concluded by stating that while they will miss O’Sullivan when he doesn’t compete, the priority is his happiness, regardless of his future decisions.