Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan will no doubt be celebrating as the World Grand Prix is leaving the UK for a new adventure in Hong Kong.
‘The Rocket’ has long been vocal about his desire to see more snooker events in Asia. And now the news has leaked from World Snooker Tour (WST) headquarters that Hong Kong will welcome back its first ranking event in March, after a lengthy 35-year absence.
The tournament promises the leading 32 players of the season vying for a significantly enhanced World Grand Prix prize pot. The kitty has received quite the cash injection, escalating from £380,000 to a hefty £700,000, with the champion set to bank £180,000, a notable leap from the £100,000 O’Sullivan claimed for his victory in Leicester early this year.
Since its inception in 2015, the World Grand Prix has trotted around various UK locations including Llandudno, Preston, Cheltenham, Milton Keynes, and Coventry, before witnessing O’Sullivan’s majestic 10-7 triumph over Judd Trump in January.
O’Sullivan hasn’t shied away from expressing his irritations about the tour’s packed schedule limiting his playtime in Asia. His frustration reached such heights last year that he discussed hanging up his cue for good to have the freedom to craft his own itinerary, reports The Express.
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“If I can’t go and do what I need to do, which is play a lot in China, I won’t ever play again,” O’Sullivan disclosed to the BBC. “So, we’re at a kind of crossroads now.”
The snooker ace candidly expressed his frustrations, saying: “If that gets to the point where I’m not able to do that, I’m not allowed to do that, I probably won’t play. I’ll probably go and play Chinese 8-Ball because I still want to play snooker, I still want a cue in my hand.”
He further elaborated on the lack of domestic opportunities. O’Sullivan said: “There’s just not enough here in the UK for me to justify the effort that I put in. If someone’s going to respect me and value me more, why would I not go there? It’s like being in an unhealthy relationship with someone, why would you be in that?”
He said: “I’d love to be able to just keep playing snooker for the next five, six, seven, eight years, but if I’m going to be forced into a situation where that’s not possible, then I’m not going to just accept whatever 132 players do, which is to go and play tournament after tournament, week in, week out.”
Despite discussions, the iconic World Championship remains in Sheffield, but the World Grand Prix is making a move. Anticipation builds as the 2025 event finds its home at the new Kai Tak Sports Park, promising over 4,000 seats in the Grand Hall for eager fans.
From March 4-9, players will be heading to Kowloon City, and the World Open in Yushan, which was originally set for the same date, will now take place a week earlier.