RONNIE O’SULLIVAN feels a renewed passion for snooker that he hasn’t experienced since he was just 14 years old.

The 49-year-old champion insists he has no plans to retire in the near future.

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O’Sullivan remains the primary figure in the sport, despite facing struggles recently, tallying eight defeats in 21 matches this season.

In his latest matches, he has stumbled from positions where victory seemed close.

This year, he has secured only one ranking title—the World Grand Prix—with competitors like Judd Trump and Kyren Wilson taking the spotlight.

When asked about the potential for fans witnessing his eventual retirement, the Rocket conveyed that his passion for the sport is still strong.

O’Sullivan stated: “I wouldn’t say it’s the end. I’m definitely going to keep playing.

“The joy I’ve found in playing snooker lately feels just like when I was 14 years old.

“I won’t go into details, but I’m genuinely enjoying it. It’s a bit unusual.

“Last year, my performance was poor, and I started this year on the wrong foot as well. I managed to win five tournaments last year and reached a few semifinals, yet I didn’t enjoy playing at all. I was completely drained, to be honest. Just the idea of playing was overwhelming.

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“I was dealing with performance anxiety, struggling through my shots. After taking a couple of months off, I was able to address some issues and truly enjoy it again.

“In my last three tournaments, I performed quite well. Maybe I was just too open about it. Winning those safety battles is essential against opponents.

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“You have to make your opponents earn their points, which I haven’t been doing recently.

“I don’t panic or stress. Honestly, I’m not worried at all. If I were, I might feel anxious.

“I know I’m nearing the end of my career, so it doesn’t carry the same weight now.”

O’Sullivan is scheduled to compete this evening in the quarterfinals of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

This tournament marks the return of the 20-point Gold Ball and includes the possibility of achieving a 167—a milestone that now comes with a $1 million (£790,000) bonus.

Saudi organizers have invested a significant amount to create an academy in the desert city named after O’Sullivan, but the prospects of establishing a similar facility in the UK for local talent appear remote.

O’Sullivan joked: “Funding it yourself isn’t easy.

“There are expenses like rent, tables, and staff… based on a snooker player’s earnings, I’d end up in the hole!”

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