Snooker's World Championship without Ronnie O'Sullivan is hard to conceive, after years of him being so often the central figure at the Crucible. But it may not be far away.
O'Sullivan has had a quiet start to the 2026-27 season, with a run to the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open the only significant result in his five tournaments to date. He has since been defeated in the first round in Shenzhen and Belfast. Having earned £513,750 at ranking events over two years, O'Sullivan is £99,350 ahead of Ali Carter, who holds 16th spot in the world rankings, and £154,650 clear of Zhou Yuelong, who sits in 17th.
On first glance, that appears to be a comfortable cushion. However, over a third of O'Sullivan's winnings come from reaching the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters in August 2025. The £200,000 he won in Jeddah will slip out of the eligibility period soon after the start of the 2027-28 season, and the tournament was abolished in April, so he cannot replace those earnings. He will likely need strong performances over the next 18 months to stay in contention for an automatic spot at the 2028 World Championship.
O'Sullivan has operated on a reduced schedule in recent years, citing medical reasons and the need to prioritise his mental health for several withdrawals. He played predominantly in Asia in 2025-26. Despite saying he did not "want to throw in the towel just yet," he has acknowledged his limited time left in the sport, and has said he would retire rather than compete in World Championship qualifying.
"I'd love to win another World Championship. I've got two attempts at it," O'Sullivan told World Snooker Tour in July. "If I don't do it this season or the next season, then it'll definitely never happen."
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing