O’Sullivan would possibly enhance his possibilities of incomes rating prize cash by competing in additional tournaments, having operated on a diminished schedule in recent times.
It needs to be famous he has cited medical causes or the necessity to prioritise his psychological well being for his withdrawals from a number of tournaments in recent times.
He performed predominantly in Asia in 2025-26, solely competing in two tournaments in Britain – the UK Championship and World Championship.
His look in Belfast this week was his first in a rating occasion in the UK exterior the Triple Crown occasions (Masters, World Championship, UK Championship) for the reason that English Open in September 2024.
His final rating title got here on the World Grand Prix in January of the identical 12 months.
After his defeat within the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open in August, O’Sullivan stated he didn’t “wish to throw within the towel simply but”.
However he has additionally acknowledged he has restricted time left within the sport, giving himself till 2028, exterior to beat Hendry’s world title complete by touchdown an eighth.
Ought to he slip out of the highest 16, O’Sullivan has stated he has no real interest in competing in World Championship qualifying – held this 12 months on the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield – stating he would retire from snooker as an alternative.
There are 16 locations out there for the World Championship by way of the qualifying rounds, with Hendry, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui and Steve Davis amongst gamers previous and current who’ve taken that route after slipping out of the elite 16 amid declining outcomes.
It seemingly holds no enchantment to O’Sullivan, although.
“I might like to win one other World Championship. I’ve received two makes an attempt at it,” O’Sullivan instructed World Snooker Tour in July.
“If I do not do it this season or the following season, then it’s going to undoubtedly by no means occur.
“I am not going to play qualifiers. You will not be seeing me go right down to Barnsley attempting to win qualifying matches and all that kind of stuff.
“I’ve to be practical. If that occurs, then clearly that is the top of my profession. However hopefully, I can hold going for at the very least one other two seasons.”
Enjoying in additional tournaments could also be the obvious approach to keep away from a tough retirement choice, however O’Sullivan has spoken candidly about his battles with despair and anxiousness and should really feel he can not compete extra repeatedly.
O’Sullivan has threatened to retire on a number of events throughout his profession earlier than deciding to stay with the game, going again so far as his teenage years.
These have normally shortly been forgotten and the truth is that he has displayed outstanding longevity, along with his first World Championship win coming in 2001 and his newest in 2022.
Nevertheless, confronted with fading powers and a ensuing lack of prize cash, we could also be getting into the top stage of the all-time nice’s profession.