Hearn would welcome return of 'Rocket'
Source: AFP |
January 23, 2013, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
WORLD Snooker supremo Barry Hearn has insisted the success of the recent Masters tournament shows the sport can thrive without Ronnie O'Sullivan although he'd welcome the return of the world champion.
Sunday saw world No. 1 Mark Selby take his third Masters title after a 10-6 victory in the final at London's Alexandra Palace against defending champion Neil Robertson of Australia.
O'Sullivan was a spectator in the crowd on semifinal day, sparking thoughts the fans' favorite could be about to end his self-imposed exile from snooker at the World Championships in Sheffield, England, in April.
That event will see Selby, who has already won the UK Championship, trying to win all three of snooker's major titles in one season.
"If I know Ronnie I think the reason he came on Saturday night is because he's sitting at home watching it on telly saying 'I used to be good at that game'," Hearn, who made his name as manager of six-time world champion Steve Davis.
There had been concerns that when O'Sullivan staged his latest departure from snooker, the sport would be badly hurt by the absence of its biggest draw. But Hearn said snooker was about more than one man. "If he decides to he's welcome with open arms, because he adds so much. And if he doesn't, I just want to remind him that he wasn't at the Masters, we sold more tickets and we got bigger TV ratings."
Sunday saw world No. 1 Mark Selby take his third Masters title after a 10-6 victory in the final at London's Alexandra Palace against defending champion Neil Robertson of Australia.
O'Sullivan was a spectator in the crowd on semifinal day, sparking thoughts the fans' favorite could be about to end his self-imposed exile from snooker at the World Championships in Sheffield, England, in April.
That event will see Selby, who has already won the UK Championship, trying to win all three of snooker's major titles in one season.
"If I know Ronnie I think the reason he came on Saturday night is because he's sitting at home watching it on telly saying 'I used to be good at that game'," Hearn, who made his name as manager of six-time world champion Steve Davis.
There had been concerns that when O'Sullivan staged his latest departure from snooker, the sport would be badly hurt by the absence of its biggest draw. But Hearn said snooker was about more than one man. "If he decides to he's welcome with open arms, because he adds so much. And if he doesn't, I just want to remind him that he wasn't at the Masters, we sold more tickets and we got bigger TV ratings."
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