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Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan said snooker was “in the worst place it has ever been”; World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson has returned to the world No 1 and asked if the 47-year-old is a role model like Rory McIlroy in golf and Roger Federer in tennis.
According to PA Sport
Last updated: 22/03/23 10:14
World number 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan says snooker is in the worst place it has ever been.
World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson has hit out at Ronnie O’Sullivan’s “misguided” and “disrespectful” comments about the state of the sport.
Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan claimed this week that the game is in the “worst place” in terms of prize money and has even increased the chances of players striking out.
A match-fixing hearing involving 10 Chinese players also means that next month’s World Championship in Sheffield will be played in dark clouds, but Dawson has come out fighting with a long statement on the WST’s website.
“Ronnie is a great player and a legend of our sport, but sometimes his comments are very wrong,” Dawson wrote. “I feel the need to respond to some of the damaging comments that have been made in the press this week.
“First of all, Ronnie never attends a player meeting or joins us to discuss his opinion. He also has my number and is welcome to speak to me directly.
World Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson wants O’Sullivan to help ‘drive the sport forward’
Dawson questions whether O’Sullivan acts as a role model
“He often compares snooker to golf and tennis, but I would challenge him whether, for him, he elevates the sport and becomes a role model like Rory McIlroy or Roger Federer.
“We are striving to take snooker to a higher level, but we need players to be ambassadors in general, and to communicate any concerns they have through the right channel. Comments like that of Ronnie this week destroy us as a sport – and they baseless.”
Dawson highlighted the growth in prize money since the commercial rights of snooker were awarded to Matchroom Sport in 2010, adding: “During the time we’ve been running the tour, Ronnie has won £7m in prize money, including a £500,000 top prize at last year’s World Championship.
“No doubt, with his talent, it will be more if he chooses to play in other events.
“His comments are often very disrespectful to the dedicated management of snooker, its commercial partners and sporting venues, and the rest of the players.
O’Sullivan won a record seventh World Championship at The Crucible in 2022
‘OSullivan must work with us to move the sport forward’
“In the past they have described the lower ranked players as ‘numpties’ but they love the sport as much as they do and our role is to give them the opportunity to compete. This season we have provided each player with a £20,000 income guarantee to help them pay their costs and develop a career.
“He suggested that the players should go on strike – but why? That would certainly not generate new profits. He also said that the players are afraid of being fined for expressing their opinion but again this is not borne out by the facts.
“The number of players fined for comments made in the media is small – generally we are given more freedom than athletes in other sports because we want to be more involved with the media and the fans.
“If Ronnie takes advantage of his own huge global popularity to become a real ambassador for snooker, then he can work with us to direct the sport to the benefit and the sport as a whole.
“Snooker is bigger than any other game. The sport will continue to grow and we have no doubt that in the coming years it will be more successful than ever.
“My message to Ronnie – and all the players – come and talk to me and the team. Our doors are always open.”
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