O'Sullivan will defend world crown
Source: Agencies |
February 27, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RONNIE O'Sullivan is set to end his snooker exile and defend his world title in April this year, the Englishman said at a news conference in London yesterday.
Four-time world champion O'Sullivan, 37, has played only one competitive match this season after growing disenchanted with snooker and had until the end of February to decide whether to defend his title before the entry list closed.
As reigning champion, O'Sullivan will be the top seed at the World Championship, which starts at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, northern England, on April 20.
And he insisted a lack of match practice was no reason to disregard his title chances, saying: "I just thought it was time to come back. I have a different perspective now."
He added: "I am used to being written off. I know how good I am and that I can do this."
O'Sullivan has played just once since winning his fourth world title in May - an uninspiring loss to the previously little-known Simon Bedford at a minor tournament in Gloucester, England.
"Three or four months ago I was sitting thinking that I would rather be losing 10-0 in Sheffield to be back playing, rather than going for lunch, dinner and chilling out," O'Sullivan said.
"I got bored and had to get back to playing, winning or losing, and it shows how big a part of my life snooker is."
In Haikou, China, defending champion Mark Allen scored a 5-2 win over Ryan Day at the Haikou Open.
In another match, Chinese rookie Zhao Xintong beat Andrew Higginson, who is ranked 25th in the world, 5-1. Meanwhile, Shaun Murphy sent Martin Gould packing with a closely contested 5-4 win.
Four-time world champion O'Sullivan, 37, has played only one competitive match this season after growing disenchanted with snooker and had until the end of February to decide whether to defend his title before the entry list closed.
As reigning champion, O'Sullivan will be the top seed at the World Championship, which starts at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, northern England, on April 20.
And he insisted a lack of match practice was no reason to disregard his title chances, saying: "I just thought it was time to come back. I have a different perspective now."
He added: "I am used to being written off. I know how good I am and that I can do this."
O'Sullivan has played just once since winning his fourth world title in May - an uninspiring loss to the previously little-known Simon Bedford at a minor tournament in Gloucester, England.
"Three or four months ago I was sitting thinking that I would rather be losing 10-0 in Sheffield to be back playing, rather than going for lunch, dinner and chilling out," O'Sullivan said.
"I got bored and had to get back to playing, winning or losing, and it shows how big a part of my life snooker is."
In Haikou, China, defending champion Mark Allen scored a 5-2 win over Ryan Day at the Haikou Open.
In another match, Chinese rookie Zhao Xintong beat Andrew Higginson, who is ranked 25th in the world, 5-1. Meanwhile, Shaun Murphy sent Martin Gould packing with a closely contested 5-4 win.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
