I’ll play to 50 says Ronnie
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has rekindled his love affair with the sport and wants to play until he is 50.
The five-time world champion is in his 26th year as a professional. Now 41, he has issued countless retirement threats and taken long spells away from the table.
But he said: yesterday: “I am enjoying playing as much as at any time in my life. Now 50 sounds a good number to stop, go away and do something else.
“I am not too bothered about winning more tournaments.”
O’Sullivan also said he spent “four or five days” in hospital after his first-round victory at last year’s World Championship.
Following a 10-7 win over David Gilbert at the Crucible, O’Sullivan suffered what he described as “a breakdown” and smashed a cue on his dressingroom wall.
“I had had a massive workload, probably too much and worked myself to the bone,” he said. “I was driven down to hospital in London for four or five days.
“I was physically exhausted and on a low. I think it was a breakdown. I had a few days and a bit of medication to get me going. It worked.” (ADAMS). Olympic holder Yarnold is one of three Britons among 11 selected from skeleton, but no Russians, despite a culture of suspicion over their sliding programme since the publication of the second McLaren report last year.
“The ADAMS system is crucial in our fight against doping and the IBSF should expand the testing pool,” said Yarnold. “But I do not understand why there are three GB athletes in the pool of 11 and no Russians.”