O’Sullivan accuses Hearn of bullying

Ronnie O’Sullivan accused the snooker authorities of bullying and intimidating him in a breathtaking outburst at the Betfred World Championship.

The 41-year-old five-time Crucible champion pointed the finger at World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn and his board.

And he revealed the extent of his distress at receiving a letter from disciplinary chiefs after he criticised a referee and photographer during January’s Masters.

Hearn last week criticised O’Sullivan, branding his behaviour in media interviews “embarrassing”, following a series of bizarre exchanges.

O’Sullivan has deliberately and repeatedly given one-word or robotic answers to questions after matches. This time, O’Sullivan struck back, and said: “I phoned Barry up four weeks ago and I said, ‘Barry, I’m done with all you and your board of people’.

“I’m not being bullied, I’m not having people doing that to me ever again.

“I just want to play and have fun. I like Barry, but I’m not being intimidated or bullied any more.”

O’Sullivan was speaking after making a winning start to his 25th Crucible campaign as he saw off Wallsend’s Gary Wilson 10-7.

The Masters champion had two centuries and eight further breaks of above 50 against the debutant, and afterwards revealed his dispute with the authorities.

“It’s important that I keep focused and just try to come and do a job,” O’Sullivan said.

“Sometimes I say things I shouldn’t say and get myself in bother and I get a letter through saying I need to respond in 14 days, a day before a tournament and it’s kind of messed up my last three or four tournaments.”