Ronnie O’Sullivan explains his decision to leave snooker in favor of a new career.

With possible limits on his playing time in China, world No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan thinks his tenure on the World Snooker Tour may be coming to an end. O’Sullivan asserted that he could have to abandon the tour because he might make more money in the Far East than in the UK. In response, WST stated that safeguarding “the interests of all players is our top priority.”

O’Sullivan’s remarks follow the penalties received by Luca Brecel, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, and Ali Carter for attending a private event in Macau rather than the Northern Ireland Open. With WST’s approval, the exhibition was subsequently moved to December.

“If I can’t go out and do what I need to do – which is play a lot in China – then I won’t ever play again.

“We are at a sort of crossroads now.

“There’s not enough here for me in the UK to justify the effort that I put in. When I go to China I play in great venues, great crowds, great prize money. And I love it.

“If that gets to the point where I’m not able to do that or I’m not allowed to do that, then I probably won’t play. I’ll probably go and play Chinese 8 ball [pool] because I still want to play snooker. I still want a cue in my hand.”

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The WST issued a response to O’Sullivan’s comments and insisted they were happy for him to compete in China as long as it did not affect the integrity of the tour.

“While we are delighted for Ronnie to build his profile in China, and to play in his private exhibition events, our priority is to protect the interests of all players,” the WST said.

While players under contract are not compelled to compete in every WST tournament, they “must not do anything that is detrimental to the WST or a WST event”.

A WST statement, released after news first broke of Brecel, Higgins, Selby, Un-Nooh and Carter’s decision to prioritise the exhibition in Macau over the Northern Ireland Open, said: “It is important to stress that WST players do not have to enter all WST events, they have the freedom to choose, which has always been the case.

“This level of freedom is unlike any other sport where players have voluntarily opted to enter contracts with their club/organisation. However, with this level of freedom we do make clear in our player contracts that a player must not do anything that is detrimental to the WST or a WST event.

“It is without doubt that playing in a non-sanctioned event instead of playing in a WST event is detrimental to that WST event.”

O’Sullivan did not defend his Champion of Champions title earlier this month after pulling out of the event due to mental health concerns.

“Hi guys, just wanted to let you know I’m unfortunately withdrawing from the Champions of Champions event tomorrow,” said O’Sullivan on X.

“Mentally, I feel a bit drained and stressed and I want to look after my mental health and my body. I’m sorry to all the fans but I’ll be back.”

O’Sullivan could return to action in the UK Championship, with his first match scheduled against a qualifier on Tuesday, November 28