Ronnie O’Sullivan has spoken out about Stephen Lee and his possible return to professional snooker after a 12-year ban for match-fixing. Despite Lee’s troubled past, Ronnie, aka ‘The Rocket’, believes Lee has what it takes to compete at a high level again. O’Sullivan, who played against Lee during his own illustrious career, thinks Lee’s snooker skills are impressive, saying, “He’s a great cueist.” There’s no certainty yet if Lee will make a full comeback, especially since he hasn’t settled legal fees from his match-fixing saga. But, after showing up at an exhibition in Thailand last August, it’s clear he’s testing the waters. If he decides to jump back into the professional arena, he’ll need to go through the UK Q-School to qualify for the main tour.
While Lee himself remains non-committal about a return, snooker fans and players alike are curious. In a past interview, Lee shared that he’s repeatedly asked about coming back, leaving the door open for the future. “Let’s see what happens in two years,” he suggested. Fellow snooker legend John Higgins has also shown support for Lee, saying he would “welcome him back with open arms.”
Meanwhile, O’Sullivan is gearing up for another challenge, facing Iulian Boiko at the Xi’an Grand Prix. Ronnie continues to be a prominent figure in the snooker world, with fans eagerly following his every move. What are your thoughts on Lee’s potential return? Could he take the snooker world by storm once more? Share your opinions in the comments below!