Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals new snooker schedule for rest of season – ‘I’m going to give it my best shot’

Ronnie O’Sullivan picked up from where he left off at the Masters in London by producing another fine performance in a 4-2 win over Pang Junxu in the first round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester.

But O’Sullivan finished with a clinical 95 to reach the last 16 and a meeting with Zhou Yuelong, who completed a 4-1 win over former UK champion Stephen Maguire earlier in the day.

Two-time World Grand Prix winner O’Sullivan has revealed his plans for the rest of the season which is likely to see him sit out the Welsh Open and German Masters.

He will head off to Barnsley to face Alfie Burden on Tuesday night aiming to secure a last-64 spot in the World Open and a trip to the finals venue in Yushan (Mon Mar 18 – Sunday Mar 24 live on Eurosport) before returning to action at the Players Championship in Telford next month (Mon Feb 19 – Sun Feb 26) involving the top 16 on the one-year list.

He also intends to compete in the Tour Championship in Manchester (Mon Apr 1 – Sun Apr 7) with the top eight on the one-year list competing ahead of the World Championship in Sheffield (Sat Apr 20 – Mon May 6).

“I’m going to miss quite a few tournaments after this,” said O’Sullivan on ITV. “I know I’ve won tournaments, but I’m not really happy with my game. I shouldn’t really have come here. In hindsight, I should have just bowed on this one as well.

“But I’m here now, so I’m going to give it my best shot. I’m going to try to qualify for the China event because I like the China events.

“That will be pretty much be me done. I’ll show up for the Players as well because that is quite a decent tournament.”

O’Sullivan says he wants to play well rather than win tournaments in a season that has so far seen him lift the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship and Masters.

“The main thing for me is my exhibitions,” said O’Sullivan. “I’m contracted to do 20-25 exhibitions a year and I’ve got 20-30 days commitments with my sponsors. There’s two months there. I just play enough tournaments to get the cue out of the case.

“I’d like to think if I fell off the tour, I might get a wild card…I’m just trying to keep my tour card. I’m not really bothered about winning tournaments.

“Most important thing is doing my exhibitions which I enjoy and fulfilling my ambassador work. That’s where I get my most enjoyment.

“I’ll take it, [winning tournaments] I’m not going to say no to it. But I’m not that bothered really. The most important thing is to play well.

“I’d rather play well, and get beat than play bad and win. “