World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has strongly denied accusations of bullying and intimidation made by Ronnie O'Sullivan following the five-time world champion's outburst at the Crucible. O'Sullivan launched a tirade against Hearn and the board after his first-round victory, claiming he had been pushed too far by disciplinary action over his criticism of a referee and photographer at the Masters.
The 41-year-old said he had told Hearn he was 'done' with the board and that his lawyers would handle matters, vowing not to be bullied or intimidated any more. O'Sullivan revealed he had received a letter from the sport's disciplinary panel before the Masters, which he said had affected his performance in subsequent tournaments, leaving him unable to win back-to-back matches.
Hearn responded with a statement calling the allegations 'unfounded' and damaging to the global reputation of World Snooker. He said the organisation would take whatever action necessary to protect its reputation, but expressed hope that all parties could move on and focus on the entertainment provided by the players.
O'Sullivan, who beat debutant Gary Wilson 10-7 in his opening match, said he was reluctant to engage with the media to avoid further trouble. He admitted he had considered walking away from the sport, citing options like reality television, but said he continued for love of the game.
In other matches at the World Championship, Stuart Bingham established a 5-4 lead over Peter Ebdon, while Shaun Murphy led 17-year-old Yan Bingtao 6-3 after their opening sessions.
