[Jack_]

Ronnie O'Sullivan to defend snooker world title

Ronnie O'Sullivan has announced he is to end his snooker sabbatical and will defend his world title in April.

The 37-year-old pulled out of the 2012-13 season last November because of "personal issues".

O'Sullivan had until 28 February to decide if he was going to play at this year's World Championship.

"I got a bit bored," said O'Sullivan. "I needed a rest and I thought it was time to get back to what I have done for a lot of my life."

World Snooker says it is awaiting O'Sullivan's formal entry but that, as the reigning champion, he will be scheduled to play on the opening morning of the World Championship on Saturday, 20 April.

O'Sullivan added: "Three or four months ago I was sitting thinking that I would rather be losing 10-0 in Sheffield to be back playing, rather than going for lunch, dinner and chilling out.

"I had to get back to playing, winning or losing, and it shows how big a part of my life snooker is."

O'Sullivan continued: "I certainly feel refreshed. I was never out of juice. I don't find snooker hard mentally or physically.

"It is your job and you get used to it. I needed to take time out for other things.

"I knew I couldn't take too much time out. It was always in the back of my mind that I had to come back and come back with a clear head after sorting a few things out."

The four-time champion, who has battled depression in recent years, attended the Masters as a spectator in January.

O'Sullivan has provisionally dropped to 24th in the rankings but, as defending champion, he will qualify for the World Championship and be the top seed.

He suffered badly with glandular fever last year, but put that behind him at the Crucible to land his fourth World Championship title, beating Ali Carter in the final.

However, O'Sullivan has only played one match on the tour since that victory when he was beaten by lowly-ranked Simon Bedford in a Players Tour Championship event in Gloucester in September.

He then played six exhibition matches against Jimmy White around the British Isles, the last in Liverpool on 25 October, before withdrawing the next day - on doctors' advice - from the International Championship in China.

"I've potted lots of balls, but I'm match rusty," he said: "I've not played matches in tense situations and it's going to be a tough course with no practice.

"You can never replicate match situations anywhere else. This is a massive challenge but I see this as the start of a bigger picture."

BBC Sport pundit and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty said: "At the back of my mind I did think he was going to return. When you have played the game for as long as he has it is very difficult to walk away.

"It is great news. It is great for snooker. He is our talisman. The game is not about one player but he is probably the most talented player to lift a cue. He creates a buzz.

"It is going to be difficult for him. He is going to have to knuckle down and get some quality players to face in practice. But a lot of those will not want to play him as they would rather catch him cold at the World Championship."

Another former world champion, the 2010 winner Neil Robertson of Australia, said on Twitter: "Great to see Ronnie back to defend his world title, would have been weird not to have the defending champion there."

BBC Sport

So happy! Great news this deserved its own thread.

I hope he does himself justice after so long out. He really will be the GOAT if he turns up and is able to defend his title.

[Marcus.]

good luck to him

[Legend killer]

The Saviour of snooker returns. The sport has been boring as **** without him from the likes of Selby playing at a snails pace to the zero crowd atmosphere if they were lucky enough to sell any seats in the first place

[Brother Leon]

Didn't take long..

[Novo]

The 90's Dominant Hendry is still a better player then Ronnie for me, if he kept up his form from the 90's then he could have even got close to matching Joe Davis, even now Hendry is has still won 14 more Ranking titles then Ronnie but if Ronnie actually gets his head together though and plays his best stuff there is no reason why he can't close that gap a lot i doubt he'll overtake Hendry though

[Novo]

I do prefer the way Ronnie plays though but Hendry was just the most complete player back in the 90's

Originally Posted by Legend killer

The Saviour of snooker returns. The sport has been boring as **** without him from the likes of Selby playing at a snails pace to the zero crowd atmosphere if they were lucky enough to sell any seats in the first place

I can't stand Selby. Just because he pulls a few funny faces, he's known as "The jester from Leicester". He should be from a place called Runt.

Originally Posted by Novo

The 90's Dominant Hendry is still a better player then Ronnie for me, if he kept up his form from the 90's then he could have even got close to matching Joe Davis, even now Hendry is has still won 14 more Ranking titles then Ronnie but if Ronnie actually gets his head together though and plays his best stuff there is no reason why he can't close that gap a lot i doubt he'll overtake Hendry though

In terms of success that's undisputed, but Hendry at his 90's best, doesn't get close to Ronnie playing at his free best. Admittedly those occasions have been relatively rare, but it's hard to judge things like this on trophies won.

[reece(:]

Hope he slays!

[waterhog]

i saw this news yesturday and i had to do a poem and i have not started a thread of my own as i see you are already talking about it. here is my 10 cents.

Ronnie - put back on your snooker JohnE 27.02.13

delightful news,
26 February is the date,
i can still see the muddle,
but the decision i congratulate.
Ronnie is like me,
life's battle is in the brain,
he does something he loves,
and self destructs under the strain.
after every game,
he will get political,
who needs commentators,
when on himself he is most critical.
the shots he can do,
are for a "genius" to understand,
its followed by a "cool" and "casual",
as he plays the next shot with the other hand.
we have had the skin head,
the rugged look or even the tail from the pony,
i am so delighted he is back,
Ronnie keeps the game interesting and not one bit phony.

[Marc]

Good good

[Iceman]

Fantastic

[Legend killer]

Hendry is extremely lucky in the weak era he was allowed to feast in. Although a good player Ronnie and Stephen's head to head speaks volumes and I would also put Higgins ahead of Stephen to boot

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Legend killer

Hendry is extremely lucky in the weak era he was allowed to feast in. Although a good player Ronnie and Stephen's head to head speaks volumes and I would also put Higgins ahead of Stephen to boot

you've become a parody of your own self the **** you talk...you used to be funny in an odd way...now it's very awkward

[Legend killer]

Originally Posted by Iceman

you've become a parody of your own self the **** you talk...you used to be funny in an odd way...now it's very awkward

What the **** are you rambling on about???

If you think Henry wins all those titles in the Ronnie - Williams and Higgins era i would advice you to never post in the sports section again sir

Ronnie is a talent only matched by the late great Higgins

[Legend killer]

Give me Jimmy the bottlejob White as my main opposition and i would also have numerous titles

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Legend killer

What the **** are you rambling on about???

If you think Henry wins all those titles in the Ronnie - Williams and Higgins era i would advice you to never post in the sports section again sir

Ronnie is a talent only matched by the late great Higgins

Who the **** is Henry?

[Novo]

Looks like It was actually Thierry Henry v Jimmy White in the 90's

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Novo

Looks like It was actually Thierry Henry v Jimmy White in the 90's

Regardless what anyone thinks Hendry didnt have an easy run, he's a legend , he was ruthless and dominant and didnt have hissy fits like some.... shame some people cant see that.

[Legend killer]

Autocorrect nothing to see here lads. And seeing as you had the nerve to post in this thread again i presume you agree with my last statement

Guy thought he could get away with calling me out on through sports section MichaelJordanLaughing.gif

[King Gizzard]

[joeysteele]

It is great news, Sport and Snooker need characters like Ronnie.

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Legend killer

Autocorrect nothing to see here lads. And seeing as you had the nerve to post in this thread again i presume you agree with my last statement

Guy thought he could get away with calling me out on through sports section MichaelJordanLaughing.gif

You dont own this forum, stop talking like you have some right to where people post.....get a grip

[Legend killer]

Cry me a river. You have the nerve to call me out on the sports section(bet you regret that now) and when i dismiss you rubbish with facts you go off topic and start whining

[Iceman]

What facts????? that if someone might have been born at a different time the world would be a different place.... yeah right good one!