Ronnie O’Sullivan has claimed he wants to form a breakaway snooker competition akin to football’s Champions League if enough senior players are willing to join him.
O’Sullivan called Barry Hearn a “dictator” last month and believes World Snooker are running its stars into the ground due to the rigorous tournament schedule.
“You don’t see Leyton Orient turning up to play [Lionel] Messi at Barcelona. They might play in the FA Cup, not week in, week out. It’s demotivating,” O’Sullivan said at a press conference.
“I think Messi would get fed up having to come out and play Huddersfield Town and Leyton Orient. He wants to play against [Cristiano] Ronaldo, hear that Champions League music. I think there’s room for two tours.”
O’Sullivan claimed to have backers for the new type of tournament which he insisted wouldn’t be a direct season-long competitor to snooker’s current tour.
He suggested that Stephen Hendry may be willing to come out of retirement to join him as well as Chinese players Yu Delu and Cao Yupeng who were recently banned for match-fixing.
“There’s seven players... that’s what I’m hoping for, enough players that are a bit fed up and maybe want to play in a Champions League-style, where you still play for trophies, prize money, a one-table setup,” he continued.
“I’ve got 15 years left in this game, I still think I can play to mid-fifties, easily, so there’s no rush.
“I’m not looking for an alternative tour, I’m looking for seven or eight real top-quality players, Champions League style, ATP at the O2, best of the best, every match is a final.
“Absolutely. It’s a risk. I’m looking for people.. you can’t expect people to come for nothing. Hendry’s up for it, bring him out of retirement, me, Higgins, three or four other good quality players.”
O’Sullivan’s revelation came in the wake of John Higgins hinting that he will retire at the end of the season, believing that he’s tired of the tour’s rigorous schedule and compared it to Roger Federer being asked to “come out at Richmond Park and qualify for Wimbledon”.
“He wants to play and finds the tour a bit of a grind, when you’re a top player, winning matches, travelling from here to here... I’m just waiting for four or five unhappy players, because I can’t go and play on my own. I’m ready to go.”
