Barry Hearn has backed Ronnie O’Sullivan’s decision not to play in the Masters this month, calling on other snooker players to step up and replace the Rocket’s star power when he is not around.
Despite withdrawing from numerous tournaments in the past, it came as something of a surprise as O’Sullivan had been practicing in Ireland for the event and had been given an ideal schedule with his opening match the last of the first round contests.
However, the 50-year-old was not ready to play and Hearn feels it is only right that he pulled out in that situation.
The Matchroom president feels for the fans when the sport’s biggest name does not play, but says it is then down to those who are competing to provide the kind of entertainment and stardust that the Rocket brings to the table.
‘I’m not sure Ronnie is that money-motivated, I think that’s probably a little bit unfair on Ronnie,’ Hearn told the BBC’s Framed podcast.
‘He plays when he wants to play. Ronnie sets very high standards. Ronnie is a genius, a one-off player that we won’t see again probably in our life time.
‘Every time I say that somebody pops up and does better. I hope that’s the case in snooker, he will be replaced one day.
‘At the moment he plays when he can and when he wants to and I think he’s earned that right to make that decision.
‘From the fans’ perspective I understand it’s disappointing when he’s not there but it’s his choice to be there or not be there and I don’t ever want to take that choice away from a player. If he doesn’t feel mentally right to play, I don’t want him to play, I want him to do the best for himself.
‘The fans have got to understand that and the players that are left have got to understand the responsibility they have to replace the great man. This sport needs a Ronnie O’Sullivan and actually it needs three or four Ronnie O’Sullivans.
‘I’ve got a feeling we may be seeing them, but whether they’re English, Welsh, Scottish or Chinese is something we’ll have to watch this space to see.
‘But we must remember the benefit Ronnie’s been to snooker over the years has been enormous. For that reason we will miss him when he doesn’t play and we hope that there’s more games left in him yet. But that’s a selfish hope, my biggest hope is that whatever Ronnie O’Sullivan does he’s happy.’
Can snooker catch up with darts on prize money?
Kyren Wilson landed the Masters title on Sunday night, beating John Higgins in the Alexandra Palace final and claiming the £350,000 top prize.
Snooker boasts a number of high value tournaments, but the biggest winner’s cheques remain the £500,000 on offer at the World Championship and the Saudi Arabia Masters.
In contrast, Luke Littler landed £1m for winning the World Darts Championship earlier this month.
Hearn says he is pushing for the cueists to catch up with the chuckers in terms of prize money, but the huge 2025 Sky Sports TV deal, significant sponsorship interest and consistently packed venues, all helped by the emergence of Littler, are not matched in snooker.
‘It all comes down to finances. I’m desperate to increase the snooker prize money but it’s got to be financially viable and it’s got to be something where we’re all pulling in the same direction,’ he said.
‘Darts has done that, it’s created a financial model where broadcasters have experienced huge numbers therefore they’re prepared to pay more money. Darts has created narrative and the darts players have been singularly supportive, bar none. They’re part of our journey.
‘The majority of snooker players are like that, there’s still a few little niggles that go on. It always bemuses me how people can talk anything negative when a sport has gone from £3.5m prize money to £25m.
‘We know it’s got to get bigger, but it only gets bigger if we’re all pulling in the same direction.
‘The future is very bright for snooker. Providing we keep delivering value for money, we’re entertaining and customer experience at venues is good.
‘Now we’re seeing our partners in the Middle East come back with a few new ideas. There’s going to be more happening in the Middle East, in other countries as well. We have to balance the calendar to make sure everybody gets the opportunity to change their life through snooker, and that’s what we will do.
‘Darts is easy to work out, you can calculate revenues so much easier because you sell out every single show and sponsors are queuing up, knocking on the door.
‘We’re not quite at that level with snooker and we need to work harder to achieve those goals. And when we do, we’ll be in a position, hopefully quite soon, where we can see serious increases in prize money to put them closer to or the same as what the darts boys are expecting. That’s certainly my aim.’
‘I’m more optimistic now for the future of snooker than I have been for the last 10 years’
Hearn admits snooker has got some catching up to do with its fellow Matchroom Sports staple, but expects tournaments emerging in India and more in the Middle East and China to continue to see overall prize money grow.
‘I’m more optimistic now for the future of snooker than I have been for the last 10 years,’ he said. ‘Simply on the talent I see coming through, simply on the emerging markets I see.
‘We’re looking at India, China is getting bigger, the Middle East is growing for us, we’re looking at other venues around the world and we’re not afraid to invest in expansion.’
