Exclusive – Hearn: ‘O’Sullivan should want to do 147s for fans not money’
Snooker supremo Barry Hearn has hit out at Ronnie O’Sullivan for having to be persuaded by the referee to complete a maximum 147 break at the World Open in Glasgow on Monday.
O’Sullivan initially refused to pot the black in protest at the small cash prize on offer for achieving the feat, saying after the 3-0 third round win over Mark King: “What's the point of making a 147 if you're only going to make £4,000?”
But World Snooker chairman Hearn has blasted the mercurial 34-year-old and told talkSPORT O’Sullivan owes it to fans of the sport to play his best at all times, regardless of what prize money is offer.
“I really don’t like to hear multi-millionaires talking about a few extra pounds for a 147 when that’s the game that’s given them their livelihood,” Hearn told Drive Time.
“I’ve known Ronnie since he was 12 and I love him to death but I still don’t understand a lot of what he says sometimes.
“They’re playing for £502,000 this week by the way, its £100,000 for the winner and £4,000 for the high break. Now 147s are not as rare as they used to be, it’s a bit like a nine dart finish in darts, we used to pay £100,000 for that as well but you can’t insure against it anymore because these guys are too good.
“Ronnie’s a genius on the table but sometimes he doesn’t think quite as much when he’s talking straight after the game. We’re investing millions of pounds into snooker to regenerate this game and we’re doing a good job and it’s working for everybody.
"If Ronnie doesn’t want £4,000 for 147s I think it’s a sad indication of Ronnie. He should want to do 147s for the fans, for the game, for the love of it.
“There’s kids in the audience that have never seen a 147, there’s people that may never see one in their whole life, newcomers to snooker have got to see magic moments like that.
"Ronnie has a responsibility, it’s not about money it’s about your responsibility to a sport that pays you a fantastic living and you’ve got to give it your best at all times.
“If he had not potted that ball I think there would have been a disciplinary charge against Ronnie for bringing the game into disrepute, it’s a serious matter. Fortunately he did and hopefully with a night’s sleep he can look at it and say that there’s certain things he owes the game as well.”
Hearn also admitted he fears for O'Sullivan's state of mind sometimes.
He added: "I worry for Ronnie, I don’t worry for the game because the game’s bigger than anybody and the game goes on.
"I’ve got a very close relationship with Ronnie and his family and I want the boy to be happy and sometimes he has a few demons that come out and he has to deal with them but for me my main concern is Ronnie."