World Championship 2025: Ronnie O'Sullivan hints at dramatic Crucible return with 'preparation' event in Saudi Arabia

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan could take a trip down memory lane by announcing his return to action at the 49th World Championship in Sheffield after an extended absence from the sport. The seven-time Crucible champion has not played in a ranking event since November, but famously took 10 months away from the game after winning the world title in 2012 before making a glorious title defence in 2013.

Will he or won't he?

It is the question anybody with a vested or even passing interest in snooker will be asking ahead of the 49th World Championship in Sheffield next month.

After failing to compete in a major ranking event since the UK Championship in November in York, will Ronnie O'Sullivan mark his return to the sport by appearing at the Crucible Theatre for a record-extending 33rd straight year?

O'Sullivan plans to travel to Saudi Arabia to participate in a coaching session with former player Nigel Bond, the 1995 world finalist, at his new snooker academy in Riyadh ahead of the World Championship (April 19 to May 5 live on TNT Sports

"Delighted to announce that I’ll be heading to Riyadh," he said on social media.

"So for exclusive coaching from the brilliant Nigel Bond, a Q&A with me as well as watching me practice please come down.

"I’d love to see you all there!!" 

O'Sullivan is apparently set to stage a practice session for fans in "preparation for the World Snooker Tour".

He will also answer questions from the public.

The main one does not need a huge feat of creative thinking when it comes to his availability for the sport's ultimate event.

Of course, a carefree exhibition in the Middle East is a million miles away from the demands of elite, sustained competition, but O'Sullivan has previous for staging dramatic announcements regarding his future plans.

Ahead of the Crucible Theatre, there has always been a touch of the theatre about the Only Way Is Essex.

After losing 4-3 to Simon Bedford in a minor ranking event in September 2012, he washed up at a media conference in February 2013 alongside Jimmy 'Whirlwind' White to promote a vodka brand, laced with a considerable dash of announcing his return from self-imposed exile.

No half-measures with O'Sullivan, he ended up retaining the blue-chip event with wins over Marcus Campbell (10-4), Ali Carter (13-8) – the man he defeated 18-12 in the final a year earlier – Stuart Bingham (13-4), Judd Trump (17-11) and Barry Hawkins (18-12).

He made 13 centuries and nobody got within five frames of him during his swashbuckling run to the fifth of his seven victories in Sheffield.

"I've kind of won tournaments from the age of seven or eight, and it goes beyond that," he told reporters before the 2013 event. "I just love the game, really.

"You never get completely tired of something you love doing."

He could make similar soundbites 12 years on, but is history set to repeat itself?

It would certainly not be absurd to see O'Sullivan compete in Sheffield and making it to the starting grid would suggest he is in the right frame of mind to compete for a record eighth title.

But with 'Rocket' Ronnie, who knows? O'Sullivan intended to play at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong last week, but opted to withdraw citing "medical reasons" for his absence.

"I am very disappointed not to be competing," he said.

"I had been eager to make my comeback in Hong Kong and have put in my utmost effort, but unfortunately must consider my health."

Failure to play in Hong Kong killed off his prospects of qualifying for the Players Championship and Tour Championship via the sport's one-year ranking list, leaving the World Championship the last option for a possible return this season.

It has been the latest in a series of withdrawals that saw him begin the year by smashing up his cue at the Championship League in Leicester before withdrawing from the Masters in London ahead of a meeting with 'Class of '92' rival John Higgins.

He has also skipped the British Open, Northern Ireland Open, Shoot Out, Scottish Open, German Masters, Welsh Open and World Open amid a preference to play lucrative exhibition matches in Asia.

Yet it would probably all be worth it if he could return from the desert, figuratively and literally, to set a new record in the modern era of the World Championship.

Of course, health is wealth, but as always with O'Sullivan, part of the ongoing attraction is never being quite sure what happens next.

"The problem is while I know what he intends to say, he might change his mind at any time.

The legend of O'Sullivan has been forged in the steel city of Sheffield despite his love-hate relationship with the Crucible.

His world-record 147 break set in five minutes and eight seconds against Mick Price in 1997 has been supported by his victory years in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

A lack of match practice is an issue, like it was 12 years ago, but such a problem could be countered by having time away from the heat of the furnace to bed in a new cue.

Cue the speculation. Will he or won't he?

History suggests it would be more of a shock if you did not see him at a tournament that has defined his life and times.