Ronnie O’Sullivan blasts ‘awful’ World Snooker Championship incident he wouldn’t allow
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has blasted what he described as an “awful” incident at the World Snooker Championship, insisting it is something he would never allow if he were in charge of the sport.
The Rocket has never been shy about speaking his mind, and once again he aimed criticism at aspects of modern snooker following a dramatic season that has seen debate grow around the pace and presentation of matches at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan’s latest comments came after discussions surrounding marathon frames and overly defensive play during this year’s tournament. Some matches dragged on for long periods, frustrating fans and players alike. The snooker legend believes the game risks losing entertainment value when contests become too slow and tactical.
He described the situation as “awful” and suggested changes are needed to protect the sport’s appeal for spectators watching both inside the arena and on television.
O’Sullivan has recently shown strong support for quicker formats such as the new Snooker 900 tournament, where players compete under strict shot clocks and shorter frame limits. The fast-paced competition has been praised for producing attacking snooker and keeping audiences engaged throughout.
The 50-year-old recently won the inaugural Global Snooker 900 Championship, defeating Luca Brecel in the final and collecting another trophy in his remarkable career. After the event, he praised the quicker style of play and suggested the sport should continue exploring modern ideas to improve entertainment.
His frustration appears linked to scenes at the World Championship where some frames stretched to extreme lengths due to safety exchanges and cautious shot selection. Former world champion Shaun Murphy has also called for rule adjustments after a record 100-minute frame during the tournament sparked criticism from sections of the snooker community.
O’Sullivan has long argued that snooker must evolve to stay attractive to younger audiences. Throughout his career, he has repeatedly challenged authorities over scheduling, officiating, playing conditions and the overall direction of the game.
Despite his criticism, the Englishman remains one of snooker’s biggest attractions. Crowds continue to flock to watch him, and television audiences regularly rise whenever he competes. Even after suffering disappointment at the Crucible earlier this year, O’Sullivan showed flashes of his brilliance by bouncing back to claim titles on the seniors circuit and in the new Snooker 900 format.
Many fans agree with his concerns about overly slow matches, while others believe tactical battles are part of snooker’s tradition and unique appeal. Either way, O’Sullivan’s latest outburst has once again sparked debate across the sport.
With the new season approaching, attention will now turn to whether snooker authorities listen to calls for change — or whether the Crucible will continue to produce the kind of “awful” situations that O’Sullivan says he would never tolerate.
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