O’Sullivan needs to grow up, says Hearn
World Snooker chief warns former champion Fears that ‘protest’ could continue at Crucible
Terry Camilleri at the Masters in January, and for swearing at a cameraman who he felt had not observed the correct etiquette.
But Hearn is mindful of the situation persisting into the Betfred World Championship, which begins in Sheffield on Saturday and is the sport’s biggest showcase.
Hearn told the Press Association: “I’m going to be having a word. Ronnie’s monosyllabic remarks are not a breach of the rules but certainly they are a breach of the spirit of how those rules are interpreted.
“And I would hope that common sense comes back, because what started off as being quite amusing has now become in my view embarrassing for everyone, including Ronnie. I’m a fan of the relationship between the players and the press. It’s time for Ronnie to grow up a little bit now.”
O’Sullivan won his fifth world title in 2013, since when he has been runner-up to Mark Selby in 2014, a beaten quarter-finalist in 2015 and a second-round loser last year, when he went down 13-12 to Barry Hawkins. That was only the second time in 13 years that he had failed to reach the last eight of the world championship.
He and all the world’s top 16 players are due to appear at an eve-oftournament press conference in Sheffield on Friday. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton believes his rivalry this season with Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel will remain respectful as the pair emerge as the most likely contenders to be crowned world champion after splitting the opening two races. “The respect for one another is the highest I have felt from another driver, especially of his calibre,” said the Briton. Olympic champion Luke Campbell will take on former lightweight world champion Darleys Pérez on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s fight with Wladimir Klitschko. Keiron Cunningham has been sacked as head coach of St Helens. The former Saints and Great Britain hooker, who is immortalised in a bronze statue outside the club’s ground, has paid for winning just three of the club’s opening eight matches. St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus said: “It is both upsetting and disappointing for us all that it has ended at this point in time.” Two-time world champion Helen Jenkins will not compete in next year’s Commonwealth Games after announcing she is expecting her first child in July.