{"id":358,"date":"2026-03-31T11:52:35","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T11:52:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=358"},"modified":"2026-03-31T11:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T11:52:35","slug":"barry-hearn-backs-ronnie-osullivans-masters-decision-with-blunt-demand-of-rivals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=358","title":{"rendered":"Barry Hearn backs Ronnie O&#8217;Sullivan&#8217;s Masters decision with blunt demand of rivals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_cc3189\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Matchroom president Barry Hearn has had his say on Ronnie O&#8217;Sullivan&#8217;s decision to not participate in The Masters this month after &#8216;The Rocket&#8217; pulled out on medical grounds<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36553290\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"2025 UK Championship - Day 4\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36553290.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_2025-UK-Championship-Day-4.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36553290.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_2025-UK-Championship-Day-4.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36553290.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_2025-UK-Championship-Day-4.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36553290.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_2025-UK-Championship-Day-4.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out of The Masters on medical grounds\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ronnie O&#8217;Sullivan pulled out of The Masters on medical grounds<cite aria-label=\"Image: GettyImages\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: GettyImages)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Barry Hearn has defended Ronnie O&#8217;Sullivan after &#8216;The Rocket&#8217; pulled out of The Masters and told snookers&#8217; other stars to &#8220;step up&#8221; in his absence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">O&#8217;Sullivan, an eight-time Masters champion, withdrew from the iconic tournament just two days before it got underway on medical grounds. He has pulled out of a number of tournaments over the past 12 months but had been expected to participate at the event in London.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hearn, though, has rebuked suggestions that O&#8217;Sullivan is &#8216;money-motivated&#8217; and told the sport&#8217;s other stars that its on them to entertain fans when the 50-year-old is unavailable.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_13e0b4\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Stephen Hendry had to message Steve Davies after what Kyren Wilson did in Masters final<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<article class=\"Teaser_teaser__XImzE OpinionTeaser_teaser-opinion__u0ZfS\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36578203\">\n<div class=\"Teaser_cover-wrapper__VVV7O\" data-testid=\"opinion-teaser-image\"><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36578432.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s540\/0_Robertson-Littler.jpg 540w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36578432.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_Robertson-Littler.jpg 650w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36578432.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s948\/0_Robertson-Littler.jpg 948w\" media=\"undefined\" data-testid=\"source-element\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36578432.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s650\/0_Robertson-Littler.jpg\"\/><\/picture>\n<p><label data-testid=\"label\" class=\"Label_label__pFaDj Label_secondary__nOPjT label--section-color\"><span data-testid=\"label-text\" class=\"Label_text__tRLWj\">OPINION<\/span><\/label><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"OpinionTeaser_content-wrapper__TVVPL OpinionTeaser_large__m6_Lk\">\n<div data-testid=\"teaser-author\" class=\"TeaserAuthor_author__h_bIR TeaserAuthor_large__QjYde\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article2205697.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s338a\/andy_dunn.png\" alt=\"Author avatar\"\/><span class=\"TeaserAuthor_author-name__YmKL2\">Andy Dunn<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I\u2019m not sure Ronnie is that money-motivated, I think that\u2019s probably a little bit unfair on Ronnie,&#8221; the Matchroom chief told <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/sounds\/play\/p0mw2mys\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">the BBC\u2019s Framed podcast.<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He plays when he wants to play. Ronnie sets very high standards. Ronnie is a genius, a one-off player that we won\u2019t see again probably in our life time. Every time I say that somebody pops up and does better. I hope that\u2019s the case in snooker, he will be replaced one day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;At the moment he plays when he can and when he wants to and I think he\u2019s earned that right to make that decision.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;From the fans\u2019 perspective I understand it\u2019s disappointing when he\u2019s not there but it\u2019s his choice to be there or not be there and I don\u2019t ever want to take that choice away from a player. If he doesn\u2019t feel mentally right to play, I don\u2019t want him to play, I want him to do the best for himself.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-36429955\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36429955\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.53\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Barry Hearn talks into a microphone\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36429955.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Barry-Hearn-talks-into-a-microphone.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36429955.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_Barry-Hearn-talks-into-a-microphone.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36429955.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Barry-Hearn-talks-into-a-microphone.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36429955.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_Barry-Hearn-talks-into-a-microphone.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Barry Hearn has urged snooker stars to step up in O'Sullivan's absence\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Barry Hearn has urged snooker stars to step up in O&#8217;Sullivan&#8217;s absence<cite aria-label=\"Image: Getty\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Getty)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">O&#8217;Sullivan&#8217;s star power means fans are understandably disappointed when he doesn&#8217;t play. And Hearn once again reiterated that it&#8217;s now down to somebody else to emerge from O&#8217;Sullivan&#8217;s shadow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He continued: &#8220;The fans have got to understand that and the players that are left have got to understand the responsibility they have to replace the great man. This sport needs a Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan and actually it needs three or four Ronnie O\u2019Sullivans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;I\u2019ve got a feeling we may be seeing them, but whether they\u2019re English, Welsh, Scottish or Chinese is something we\u2019ll have to watch this space to see.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;But we must remember the benefit Ronnie\u2019s been to snooker over the years has been enormous. For that reason we will miss him when he doesn\u2019t play and we hope that there\u2019s more games left in him yet. But that\u2019s a selfish hope, my biggest hope is that whatever Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan does he\u2019s happy.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Matchroom president Barry Hearn has had his say on Ronnie O&#8217;Sullivan&#8217;s decision to not participate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":359,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=358"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/359"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}