Hearn warning over media snub

Snooker chief Barry Hearn has warned players they risk losing their “get out of jail card” next season in the wake of Ronnie O’Sullivan avoiding a fine for ducking mandatory media interviews.

Veteran promoter Hearn described O’Sullivan’s failure to speak to reporters and television following his first-round win at the Betfred World Championship as a “Ronnie moment”.

The five-time world champion escaped with a slap on the wrist after the media blackout that followed his 10-7 victory over David Gilbert at the Crucible. As well as refusing to attend a press conference, he declined to talk to tournament broadcasters the BBC.

World Snooker, of which Hearn is chairman, announced O’Sullivan was issued with a warning as it was a first offence of the season, with fines to follow for any further breaches of discipline.

Hearn said: “He has been treated the same as any other player. He signs a players’ contract and the first breach of that is a warning.

“Disappointingly, I think quite a few players this year have used that ‘get out of jail card’ for the wrong reasons and, as such, probably I would think they will now lose their warning because it has been abused.”

Meanwhile, Hearn announced that the Masters will be rebranded as the Paul Hunter Trophy. Hunter, a threetime Masters champion, died in 2006 five days before his 28th birthday after losing his battle with cancer.

Ronnie O’Sullivan was issued with a warning after ducking mandatory media interviews.