Ronnie O’Sullivan fears ‘getting smashed’ on return

O’Sullivan won his fourth World Championship in May, but then announced he was taking a break from the sport to deal with personal issues that have dogged him throughout his career.

The 37-year-old made a brief comeback in September at a tournament in Gloucester, but he once again decided to walk away from the sport following a defeat to the unheralded Simon Bedford.

The Essex potter, widely regarded as the best player in the history of the game, vowed not to return before the end of the season, but he went back on that decision today, revealing at a press conference in London that he intended to return to the action for this year’s event at the Crucible.

“The Rocket” says he has played snooker on just 10 days out of the 302 that have passed since he posed with the famous trophy in Sheffield last May. For that reason, he knows he is taking a massive gamble.

“I’m very match rusty. I haven’t played any matches. I have not been in any intense situations so it’s going to be a tough call to go in there with no match practice behind me,” O’Sullivan said.

“I might get smashed in Sheffield. I’m going in to the unknown. It’s a massive challenge.”

O’Sullivan has suffered from personal problems over his illustrious career and he admitted today he might not still have them under control.

“They possibly could” have an effect, he said. “That’s the reality of it. I can’t make any guarantees. All I know is that I have to make a start. I have tried to put everything on hold, get things resolved.”