**Ronnie O’Sullivan Signals Move Abroad After World Snooker Championship Defeat**
In a significant announcement for the world of snooker, Ronnie O’Sullivan has indicated his intention to leave the UK and begin a “new life somewhere else”, following his semi-final exit at the World Snooker Championship. The Essex-born icon, whose career has spanned decades and has seen him claim the world title seven times, made the disclosure after a heavy 17-7 defeat to China’s Zhao Xintong at the Crucible Theatre.
O’Sullivan’s hopes of an historic eighth world crown were dashed in dramatic fashion, as Zhao, the talented 28-year-old qualifier, delivered a dominant performance during Friday’s second session, claiming eight consecutive frames before sealing his place in the final. For O’Sullivan, the defeat marked a continuation of recent frustrations, both with his game and, notably, his equipment—a subject that has been a recurring theme in his recent interviews.
The 49-year-old had only recently returned to the professional tour, having missed a chunk of the season since withdrawing from the Championship League in January due to an outburst that saw him smash his cue. Despite some promising signs during the World Championship—including reaching the last four—O’Sullivan’s overall mood seemed one of disillusionment.
Speaking candidly after his elimination, O’Sullivan revealed: “I think I’m going to be moving out of the UK this year. A new life somewhere else. I’ll still try and play snooker but I don’t know what the future looks like for me really. I’m moving away soon so I’ll just see how it goes. There’s a lot of more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker.”
He elaborated on his plans, making clear that while snooker remains a key part of his life, other priorities are emerging. “For me, it’s a big part of my life but I’ve got to try and figure out what my future looks like, whether it’s playing or not.”
O’Sullivan’s growing relationship with snooker in the Middle East is clearly influencing his next move. He is closely associated with a snooker academy in Saudi Arabia—an area where interest in the sport is expanding rapidly. With reference to this connection, he added: “I’ll be moving away to the Middle East but we’ll see how it goes. I might be back in six months, who knows. There are going to be a few changes in my life so we’ll see how that goes.”
Equipment issues continued to be a topic for O’Sullivan during the tournament. He took the unusual step of changing both his tip and ferrule after sharing the opening session 4-4, seeking solutions to a lack of control and comfort. However, even after these alterations, he downplayed their significance. “I don’t even know if it was the cue, the ferrule or me. There were three things. I just don’t even know where the white ball’s going. I’m at a loss, to be honest with you. Sometimes you’ve got to try something different, you know?”
Despite refusing to use his cue problems as an excuse, O’Sullivan reflected: “If I hadn’t snapped my old cue, maybe I’d have been able to give him [Zhao] a better game. But really my performances have not been good enough.”
The transition period in O’Sullivan’s personal and professional life follows closely on the heels of his recent split with long-term partner Laila Rouass, which will undoubtedly add to the uncertainty surrounding his immediate future.
Meanwhile, the World Snooker Championship itself remains poised for an exciting finale, with Welsh legend Mark Williams leading world number one Judd Trump 13-11 in the other semi-final ahead of Saturday night’s concluding session.
O’Sullivan’s statement marks a watershed moment for one of the sport’s most celebrated figures, as both his fans and the wider snooker community will watch closely to see what direction his life and illustrious career take next.