Hearn hits back at O’Sullivan in bullying row
WORLD Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has escalated the row with his No 1 box office star Ronnie O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan stirred up a storm at the Betfred World Championship on Sunday by accusing Hearn and the sport’s governing bodies of bullying and intimidation.
Five-time world champion O’Sullivan’s rant came after he received a letter following his Masters win in January warning him of possible disciplinary action.
O’Sullivan criticised referee Terry Camilleri and swore at a photographer, though no action was taken against him. Some wondered at the let-off but O’Sullivan insists he endures unfair disciplinary treatment.
But Hearn yesterday issued his own legal warning after the player said he might use the lawyers of artist pal Damien Hirst.
Hearn said in a statement: ‘I take any accusation of bullying and intimidation by me or World Snooker very seriously. Unfounded accusations such as these are damaging to World Snooker’s global reputation and my own. We’ll take whatever action is required to protect this reputation.’
When World Snooker refer a disciplinary case to the WPBSA they sometimes later withdraw it, as happened in this instance.
O’Sullivan has spoken about suffering from depression in the past and Hearn said: ‘Jason Francis (O’Sullivan’s manager) outlined certain things, which were accepted, and the complaint is now withdrawn. It is not the tail wagging the dog but we try to listen to common sense.’
Last night, former world champion Stuart Bingham put aside the distraction of a betting hearing scheduled for after the Crucible by moving into the last 16.
The world No 2 beat Peter Ebdon 10-5 to set up a clash with Kyren Wilson.
Shaun Murphy survived a scare against Chinese teenager Yan Bingtao to secure a 10-8 win.
Murphy took the first frame to extend his overnight lead to 7-3.
But his 15-year-old opponent fought back from 9-5 down to 9-8 before Murphy took advantage of a fluked red to progress.
John Higgins looks to be in good shape after the 41-year-old Scot stretched to a 7-2 lead against Englishman Martin Gould at the end of their first session. Higgins is seeking to win the World Championship for a fifth time.