Current Events > Ronnie O'sullivan defends accepting multi million dollar Saudi Arabia deal.

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Ronnie O'Sullivan has encouraged rebel players to "go where the money is" amid a rumoured LIV-style breakaway tour.

It is understood a number of snookers top stars have an offer on the table, around 350,000, to jump ship. World Snooker Tour's stance on rival events is clear that contracted players are free to play in anything as long as it does not clash with a main tour event.

And that will leave potters with a big decision regarding whether or not to turn their back on the professional circuit this summer. Bullish Barry Hearn believes in the financial security of the tour and told rebels they would have to start at Q School if they wanted to come back.

World No.1 OSullivan is signed to a multi-million pound three-year deal, directly with Saudi Arabia, to play WST events in the country. And the Rocket, 48, who kicked off his bid for a record eighth World Championship with a 10-1 demolition of qualifier Jackson Page, said: Theres talk there might be another tour.

Every player has the right to do what they want to do you see it in other sports like golf. The bottom line is youve got to be prepared to walk away, if I didnt get what I want am I prepared to walk away from the sport? And the answer is yes. Im happy with my life.

I want to be looked after, wanna be pampered, anyone who wants to pamper me and look after me, Im your man. Im just an open book, Im here, best offer, come speak to me, youll find my contact details on Instagram. First come first served, that will be my policy until I stop playing.

Each sportsman is a business whether you like it or not so you have to do whats right for you. We all have families to feed. Every person in the world is like that, Ive got a friend who works for the NHS but has been offered three or four times her salary to go and work in Australia so shes going to go and do that.

"Shes just going for the better pay, thats what happens sometimes. We live in a competitive world, so its great that theres this choice out there."

OSullivan has been criticised for joining forces with oil-rich Saudi Arabia. And when asked about the condemnation of the sportswashing countrys appalling human rights record, OSullivan said people should look closer to home.

The Rocket, wearing a Riyadh Season logo on his sleeve, added: Weve got really serious human rights issues going on in the UK and the US. We should be looking at ourselves seriously, I dont think we have the right to criticise anyone.

The country has been heavily linked with hosting the World Championship once the current contract with the Crucible Theatre ends in 2027. That would coincide with the 50-year anniversary of the event at the iconic venue and the centenary of the tournament being held.

But Jimmy White, a six-time runner-up, launched a passionate plea to snooker bosses to keep the event at its spiritual Sheffield home. You would lose the magic of the venue, stressed the Whirlwind.

It has been here since 1977. In the 1980s, snooker became huge, it has gone from strength to strength. People dont turn around and say, I want to play at the World Championship. They say I want to play at the Crucible.

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I like that he's honest about it.

booker, cooker, looker, SNUUUUUUUUUUUKER

O'Sullivan is always at least honest. It's not like when Jordan 'advocate for LGBT' Henderson took the Saudi money.

Snooker is nowhere near as popular as it was in the UK, and there isn't that much money in it. They had to go to China for it a few years ago, now I guess they need to turn to Saudi.

I don't watch golf

Irony posted...

I don't watch golf

It's not golf

I don't watch Blitzball

Irony posted...

I don't watch Blitzball

Imma Blitzball

I can't wait until the oil runs out and Arabia is back to being a nobody global backwater again.

I mean, would you -not- take this deal?

Well, assuming you were a man of saudi-acceptable complexion, anyway

I just find it funny that Iran gets denounced by the media as a theocratic hellhole but Saudi Arabia gets praised as "reformist" despite having very similar repressive policies when it comes to women and LGBT people.

Irony posted...

I don't watch Blitzball

https://i.imgur.com/fr5zT4N.jpeg

Wasnt the PGA gonna have some kind of merger with the Saudi league anyway?

if i remember correctly those who took a strong stand with the PGA were getting massively fucked over because it didnt even matter

Mearcstapa posted...

I can't wait until the oil runs out and Arabia is back to being a nobody global backwater again.

The reason why they're buying up so many sports teams and branching out into other things now is because they know the oil is going to run out and they want a large stake in global commodities.

Damn Rosie ODonnel is making a comeback

Guide posted...

I mean, would you -not- take this deal?

Well, assuming you were a man of saudi-acceptable complexion, anyway

2 reasons

1. You have a basic code of ethics and turn down the blood money.
2. You love Snooker as a sport and want to honor it's heritage.

The House of Saud cannot run out of money soon enough