Ronnie withdraws from the International Championship
Ronnie O’Sullivan Statement
I’m very sorry that I had to officially withdraw from the International Championship, due to ongoing health problems. I would have loved to be fit to compete in Chengdu but I have been advised by my doctor not to travel.I want to sincerely apologise to Worldsnooker, the sponsors and the fans for the disappointment caused. I look forward to see you all soon
Ronnie and Steve Davis will play In Ireland in February
Snooker Legends announced the following show today
THE ROCKET COMES TO IRELAND! So pleased to announced 4 times, and the current, world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan will play 6 times world champion ‘The Nugget’ Steve Davis at Goffs on Tuesday 5th Feb 2013. 1985 Champion Dennis Taylor will provide live commentary and the lovely Michaela will be in charge! Click poster for all booking details. Limited VIP so get in there fast!
Ronnie and Steve Davis come to Ireland
Ronnie exhibition in Poland on November 10, 2012
Video: Ronnie and Jack promote their exhibition in Poland
Video: Ronnie vs Ali Carter promotional video
Hot Shots Events’ Team press release
Ronnie O’Sullivan in Poland!
On the 10th of November in Zielona Góra’s Sports&Recreation Center (Sulechowska 41 Street) an extraordinary snooker tournament will take place: the Hot Shot Masters 3.
The biggest star of this event will be four-time world champion, the most recognisable snooker player in the world – Ronnie O’Sullivan. Beside O’Sullivan competing in the tournament will be three other snooker stars – the current world vice-champion Allister Carter with the young and promising: Liang Wenbo and Jack Lisowski.
There are two main games planned in the schedule. First is a doubles mini tournament – every star will be paired with a player from Poland. Second will be a show game between O’Sullivan and Marcin Nitschke – current Polish snooker vice-champion – the mastermind behind the whole event. There will be also more one-frame show games.
Tickets for the Hot Shots tournament are now available via the ticketteam site : http://www.ticketteam.com.pl/en/home and in Empik stores. From 24th
September the tickets will be available also in Hot Shots Club in Zielona Góra (Sulechowska 27a Street).The event is organized by Marcin Nitschke, MusicArt and Dynamicom. The tournament will be transmited by TVP Sport. The tournament websiteis www.hotshots.pl
Don’t miss it!
Ticket categories and prices:
Category 1- 100 złoty (25 Euro, closest to the table)
Sectors: all the R sectors, and E2, E3, E4, A1, J2Category 2 – 60 złoty (15 Euro)
Sectors: A2, J1, E1, E5VIP – 350 złoty (85 Euro, the VIP ticket includes an opportunity to meet the players and a full catering service).
Sector: VSectors for disabled persons – 60 złoty (15 Euro, the ticket includes
wheelchair space and a seat for the guardian)
Sectors: NP A1, NP J1
Players contract clarified – Ronnie enters the International and the UK Championship
Ronnie’s management just made the following announcement on twitter
Good news. @ronnieo147 may be playing again. Contract clarified. Uk and international in china entered.
This is of course excellent news.
A couple of hours later Ronnie himself tweeted
Happy to be back in snooker. See you all soon xx
The news has also been confirmed by Worldsnooker: O’Sullivan Confirms He Is Back
07th August 2012
Following a planned six month sabbatical from snooker, current World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has confirmed that he will return to competitive snooker before Christmas.
Ronnie O’Sullivan last night signed the WSL Players Contract and entered both the International Championship to be held in Chengdu, China and the UK Championship in York scheduled for December.
Ronnie O’Sullivan said: “I have taken the six month sabbatical I said I would and I am now looking forward to competing over the rest of this season. I am happy to be back in snooker and seeing all my fans soon!”
Barry Hearn, Chairman of World Snooker Limited, said: “I met with Ronnie last night and following our discussion he has signed the WSL Players Contract. We are obviously very pleased that Ronnie has decided to come back to snooker, the sport he loves. This is great news for his many fans around the World. We welcome him back with open arms.”
Ronnie and Jimmy in Jersey on September 27, 2012
Snooker Legends announced the following show today
So pleased to announce that tickets are now on sale for Ronnie v Jimmy at Fort Regent Jersey on Thursday 27th Sept. Come and join us for a couple of days of legends fun!!!
Info, booking here
Ronnie and Jimmy ‘break off’ in Liverpool!
Snooker Legends issued the following press release today
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Jimmy White ‘break off’ in Liverpool!
Snooker Legends comes to Merseyside for the very first time on Thursday 25th October 2012 with a truly spectacular match-up between ‘The Rocket’ and ‘The Whirlwind’ at BT Convention Centre Liverpool.
Ronnie O’Sullivan as the four-time and current defending World Snooker Champion will be taking on his great friend and former World Seniors Champion Jimmy White, to provide snooker fans of all ages with a fantastic evening of entertainment.
Ronnie is undoubtedly the biggest name in the sport and has rarely played exhibitions, so this is a great chance to see a very special head-to-head match – their last meeting in June saw Ronnie make a 147 maximum break and both players are known for their fast, exciting play plus an arsenal of trick shots!
The players will be joined at the event by the legendary John Virgo who will be on hand to provide expert analysis and entertain the crowd, whilst World Championship Final referee Michaela Tabb will be once again taking charge and keeping the boys in check.
Commenting on the event, Ronnie said: “I’m really looking forward to playing in Liverpool, I had some great times living there in my early days as a pro and have some lifelong friends still in the city – and playing against Jimmy you know you’re in for a heck of a game!”
Tickets go on sale on general sale on Friday 13 July at 9am.
To book tickets log on to www.echoarena.com or call the Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400.
Tickets are priced at £20 per adult & £15 for children under 16. Tickets are subject to a handling / booking fee.
VIP tickets are available for £70 plus handling booking fee. See www.echoarena.com for more information.
Ronnie said:
“I’m really looking forward to playing in Liverpool, I had some great times living there in my early days as a pro and have some lifelong friends still in the city – and playing against Jimmy you know you’re in for a heck of a game.”
One more Ronnie & Jimmy show in October 2012
Snooker Legends issued the following press release today
Pleased to announce another show with Ronnie and Jimmy on THURSDAY 18TH OCTOBER back in Bedworth where we played the LEGENDS CUP in May. On sale today 024 7637 6707
Snooker Legends – Ronnie & Jimmy shows in October 2012
Snooker Legends issued the following press release today
“Ronnie O’Sullivan – Snooker Legends”
We are delighted to announce 3 new shows for October with the current World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and ‘The Whirlwind’ Jimmy White.
Tickets go on sale today for shows in Lewisham, Reading and Ipswich with more dates and venues to be announced in the next week.Tuesday 9th October – The Broadway Theatre, Catford.
Box Office 020 8690 0002 www.broadwaytheatre.org.ukWednesday 10th October – The Hexagon Theatre, Reading.
Box Office 0118 960 6060 www.readingarts.comWednesday 17th October – The Corn Exchange, Ipswich.
Box Office 01473 433100 www.ipswichregent.comJoining Ronnie and Jimmy with be John Virgo and our referee Michaela Tabb.
Quotes
Jimmy “It’s great to be doing some more shows with Ronnie, the 147 maximum break in Croydon a few weeks ago in front of such a large crowd was amazing”
Ronnie “I’m looking forward to playing in front of some great crowds, it’s always a good buzz playing Jimmy and we want to put on a great show!”
VIP tickets are available for all shows which guarantee the holder a prime seat as well as entrance to the pre event champagne reception where they can meet all the players and get photographs and autographs.
Ronnie clarifies why he refused to sign the players contract
In an interview given on Monday June 25, 2012, to Hector Nunns, Ronnie has explained why he has refused to sign the players contract and why he is considering to stay out of the game for the next two years at least.
It’s now out in the news Hector Nunns article in the Daily Star . I’m sure there will be other articles on the same subject in different papers.
The reason I highlighted the date of the interview, is because, many, no doubts, will want to see Ronnie’s quotes as an answer to Barry Hearn’s negative reaction to Ronnie’s plans to set up “show” events outside of the main tour. It isn’t. This interview was given before anything about those events came out in the press and before Hearn’s response to the news.
So here is what Ronnie had to say as quoted by Hector:
Ronnie O'Sullivan
“It’s basically not about money at all.
“People don’t know the facts. I just want to turn up and play snooker. My appetite is back, I could have eight years left.
“If it was only about money I wouldn’t play. The money isn’t so great in snooker and I have some banked away.
“It’s about being valued, I feel I am used more than other players and dictated to, threatened and fined. I believe others feel the same, but I’ve had the balls to say it.”And in a go at his critics, he added:
“People who say I am not a good ambassador for snooker are talking b******s.
“Some players are in it only for the money, want to be a celebrity and are happy coming second.
“I don’t, I’m a winner. I would sign the contract tomorrow for no more money if I didn’t have to do all the extra things, arrive four days early at an event, or sign autographs until 2am.
“But if they do want me to do all that as well as playing, then there is a value and they should recognise that.
“The only hope I can give them is that in two years maybe Barry has got it sorted out, things are fair and he realises he has made a rick.
“There’s nothing too personal against Barry but often it is other people you’re dealing with and a lot haven’t got a clue.”
Some people, I’m sure, will insist that Ronnie is only motivated by greed. It’s nonsense. By staying out of the game, he’s cut himself from his main source of incomes, both the prize money and the sponsoring money he could have earned playing.
Also, nobody becomes a four times World Champion if they don’t love their sport and if they are not highly competitive. This decision can’t have been easy for Ronnie and I fully expect him to miss some aspects of the game and the competition dearly.
If Ronnie is true to his word and does not play on the tour for two years, he will have to re-qualify to re-enter it, should he wish so. He’s certainly capable of doing it if the motivation is there. In particular as in two years time, if Barry Hearn carries on with his plans, the structure of the main tour will be very different to what it is today, with a money list ranking system and a flat draw (meaning all players will start in round 1 of the tournaments).
But meanwhile, and as much as I will miss him on the baize, I only want to wish Ronnie the best in his life and in whatever he chooses to do.
June 6, 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan: statement
Ronnie O’Sullivan has decided to make good on his desire to take some time off from competitive snooker. He said today:
“I have decided not to enter any tournaments for the time being including this year’s Premier League and forthcoming WPBSA ranking events.
“I have not signed the player’s contract as I feel the contract is too onerous and am in a stage of my career where I don’t wish to make this commitment.
“I still want to play snooker and visit those places around the world such as China where snooker is enthusiastically received and adored.
“I hope to remain involved in the sport in some way in the future.”
