Ronnie O'Sullivan promises to QUIT snooker if chiefs make change popular with fans

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has been a vocal critic of snooker in the UK, but the 48-year-old does not want any gimmicks added to the sport to attract viewers

Ronnie O’Sullivan says he would call it a day with snooker if the sport tried to follow in the footsteps of darts and modernise to attract a younger audience.

O’Sullivan is currently ranked No.5 in the world and is in a unique position, having seen snooker develop throughout his long and hugely successful career. The 48-year-old is the most decorated player in the sport’s history, having won 41 ranking titles, including seven world titles and is widely considered to be its finest ever player.

He has been openly critical of events in the UK for their poor conditions and ageing audience and prefers to compete in China and Saudi Arabia. O’Sullivan has also frequently made headlines for suggesting he could be about to retire due to a lack of love for the sport, only to rekindle it.

And not long after withdrawing from the British Open at the last minute, he appeared on talkSPORT to discuss the state of snooker and its possible future. Asked whether snooker should introduce walk-ons, like darts, O’Sullivan replied: "I'd probably definitely retire! I'd be like, 'You know what? I'm out of here now.”

O’Sullivan started playing snooker aged seven and turned professional aged 16 in 1992. He’s made headlines for clashing with the sport’s governing body and has threatened to quit previously, but he insists he is still enjoying competing.

"We all have moments where we hate what we do," he told BBC Essex. "Then a few weeks later you wake up and you go, 'Actually, I really love this.' That's normal for everybody."

O’Sullivan works with psychologist Dr Steve Peters and he will continue playing as long as he enjoys it. "There was a time where I didn't think I was ever going to win one World Championship, so to be sitting here on seven feels ridiculous," he said.

"I'm not going to get greedy and want the eighth. If you said I'm going to get one, I'd be happy with that. I'm not hungry to get titles. As long as I'm enjoying playing, that's the main thing."

Reflecting on a similar theme with talkSPORT, he added: "Stephen Hendry, he was such a winner, that when he wasn't winning, he found it really difficult. I think Steve Davis was the same, Jimmy White seemed to be like, 'I don't really care about winning or losing, I just love the game.'

"So if you love the sport then obviously [you can keep playing], but if it's important to you that you're winning and competing at the top end of the game, as you get older, inevitably these youngsters come along and they're really fantastic players. So it's hard for some of the older established players to keep going in many ways because these youngsters are very, very good."