Ronnie O’Sullivan hints at retirement date as snooker legend reveals three things he wants to do in future

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has hinted astatine erstwhile helium could discontinue from playing nonrecreational snooker.

The seven-time satellite champion besides revealed the 3 things helium wants to bash successful the aboriginal arsenic helium looked up successful his career.

O'Sullivan has suggested successful caller weeks helium is coming to the extremity of his playing days.

The Rocket has not played since his surprise exit from the English Open past month.

He aboriginal labelled his show "embarrassing" pursuing the decision and has admitted helium would emotion to go a moving coach erstwhile helium retires.

First, though, helium is hoping to proceed for a fewer much years successful hunt of a grounds eighth Crucible triumph.

Appearing connected BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, the 48-year-old explained helium wants to travel backmost a antithetic subordinate adjacent year.

Asked if helium has a status day successful caput and knows however agelong helium volition support playing, O'Sullivan said: "I deliberation I’ve got maybe, if I privation it, 3 truly bully years.

"That depends connected if I’m afloat devoted to it and I’m benignant of similar ‘snooker is each I’m going to bash for the adjacent 3 years’. Which I tin do.

"But it’s truly hard to bash erstwhile I’m benignant of like: ‘I privation to bash a fewer days with Jimmy White arsenic a pundit, I privation to spell and bash a fewer exhibitions, I privation to bash a fewer shows,’ due to the fact that they’re fun.

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"I tin inactive perform, I tin inactive beryllium a apical 8 subordinate doing that but to afloat springiness yourself the champion opportunities it’s astir being wholly connected it, you know. It’s whether I’m prepared to bash that.

"I deliberation I volition this year, I deliberation I’ve decided. Last year, the World Championships wasn’t a bully tourney for me.

"I was truly gutted astatine however I played. Wasn’t disappointed I lost, you know, you lose. But the mode I played, I wasn’t blessed with that.

"I privation to effort and enactment that close and travel backmost a antithetic subordinate adjacent year."

O'Sullivan was beaten successful the quarter-finals astatine this year's World Championships, losing 13-10 to Stuart Bingham successful May.

He had made the past 8 by beating Jackson Page and Ryan Day earlier successful the tournament.

The satellite fig 5 has not won a ranking rubric since, either, with his tally inactive sitting astatine 41.

Meanwhile, his lack from the array continues this week aft O'Sullivan withdrew from the Wuhan Open.

It comes aft helium pulled retired of past month's British Open conscionable hours earlier his opening match.