Ronnie O'Sullivan says he is considering his future in snooker, despite producing a devastating display to beat Alan McManus at the UK Championship. The former world champion produced an awesome potting display to blitz McManus 9-5 in York, a victory that included five centuries. But he claimed he was considering his future because of the demons in his life.
He said: "I was sat in the bath today crying my eyes out for 20 minutes because there is stuff I can't deal with. I will see how things go after this tournament. It may be good for me to take some time out. I've not fallen out with snooker but there are other things I can't handle and it's crippling me."
"It may be I go to the governing body and see if they can do some sort of deal because I wouldn't want to go back to qualifying. If the board are not willing to make a deal then it's a bigger decision I've got to make. I don't know how much longer I can go on like this," he added.
O'Sullivan's doubts about his future in snooker are nothing new. He became UK champion for the first at the age of 17, and 12 months later threatened to hang up his cue. Life was less traumatic then, but the subsequent jailing of his father for murder has taken O'Sullivan Junior to the brink of depression many times.
If he can hold himself together it is going to take something special to deny O'Sullivan the £84,500 first prize in York on Sunday night. O'Sullivan now meets Australian Quinten Hann for a place in the semi-finals of the £615,000 event.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
