Ronnie O'Sullivan has warned that his snooker career is over if he falls out of the world's top 16. The 50-year-old, currently ranked 14th, began his 35th consecutive season with a 6-1 win over Chinese teenager Liu Linhao at the Shanghai Masters.
Retirement Timeline
O'Sullivan plans to reassess his form and ranking in 2028. "I will try to enjoy these next two years. I'll reassess it in 2028. If things are going really well and I surprise myself, then maybe you can extend it. You have to be realistic," he said. He stressed he will not compete in qualifying tournaments. "I am definitely not going to be playing qualifiers, put it that way. You won't see me go down to Barnsley, trying to win qualifier matches and all that sort of stuff. I have to be realistic, if that happens, then obviously that's the end of my career."
World Title Ambition
O'Sullivan, tied with Stephen Hendry on seven world titles, still hopes to break the record. "I'd love to win another World Championship. I've got two attempts at it. For three years previous I wasn't cueing well enough," he said. "So I feel like if I can find a bit of cueing and some form in Sheffield, then who knows? If I don't do it this year or the next year, then it'll definitely never happen."
Physical Toll and Young Stars
The snooker icon admitted age is catching up. "I'm 50 now. I play for two hours and I need to lay down for two or three hours. It's very hard for me to get going again," he said. He acknowledged the challenge posed by rising talents from China. "I'm glad I'm at the end of my career and I don't have to face these young Chinese talents much. Because they're just like machines. They're just phenomenal. I have to be realistic."
