Ronnie O’Sullivan is expected to return to action at the upcoming World Grand Prix (Image: Getty)
Ronnie O’Sullivan remains impressively high in the world rankings despite his troubled season as he enters the final chapter of his storied career. Unless he can summon up a strong end to the season, including going deep at the the Rocket is set to plummet down the rankings in 2025/26.
That’s because he will be defending a significant chunk of prize money under the two-year system. After missing a host of ranking tournaments this season for medical reasons, including the recent German Masters and the Welsh Open, he is currently 24th on the World Tour’s one-year list.
hasn’t played competitively since the Championship League in January, where he smashed his cue in frustration and withdrew before his final group match. He is at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong, which begins next week.
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It’s anyone’s – including the O’Sullivan’s – guess how much longer he will continue at the top level as he nears his 50th birthday. Speaking in September, O’Sullivan admitted his powers were in decline despite having just enjoyed a stellar season, which saw him win both the UK Championship and Masters for an eighth time.
The Essex potter said he had been in “steady decline probably for five years”. He added: “It’s just getting a little bit worse and worse, but you just try and hang on for as long as you can, it happens to everybody. It’s something you can’t probably correct, you’ve just got to accept it.”
Regarding his longevity, the Rocket insisted enjoying the game rather than titles was a priority. He also said he must accept his declining powers if he wants to play on. He admitted: “I ain’t got long left. I’ll be lucky if I’m in the top 16 within the next two or three years, the way I’m playing, seriously.
Judd Trump says snooker fans should enjoy O’Sullivan while they can (Image: Getty)
“You have an up and then you stay there for a while and then you have a gradual down. I just have to accept it, it’s not easy, but if I want to keep playing the game I’m going to have to otherwise I’m just going to get frustrated with myself.”
One of O’Sullivan’s biggest rivals, believes fans should enjoy the Rocket while he is still around. Speaking earlier this year, the world No.1 said: “Because Ronnie is starting to miss more events, people realise that they might not see him that much longer.
“Maybe now is the time to appreciate what you have taken for granted for the last 20 or 30 years. When he’s missing an event, everyone notices.”
Trump can see O’Sullivan calling it quits any time in the next five years, saying: “You’re probably looking at the last five years of knuckling down and going for it. To be honest, it could be any point where one more World Championship and maybe he calls it a day.”