Stephen Hendry fears for future when ‘superstar of snooker’ Ronnie O’Sullivan retires

Stephen Hendry has expressed concern for the future of snooker in the post-Ronnie O’Sullivan era.

O’Sullivan has been drawing eyeballs to snooker since taking over the mantle of the superstar of the sport from Hendry in the 1990s.

The Rocket is now in the latter stages of his career at 47 and is not the dominant performer he once was, but is still capable of producing brilliance and winning the top prizes in the sport.

O’Sullivan has suggested he would like to be competing for major titles well into his 50s, but he will depart the scene at some stage.

Hendry, who has won the same number of world titles as O’Sullivan, fears that snooker may lose its appeal to the floating fan when his fellow seven-time Crucible winner retires.

“His truly great performances are going to be fewer and further between now than they were because he’s getting older, he’s doing other things.

“Getting himself up to play a tournament is going to be harder and harder.

“On his day he’s still the best player by a mile. If he plays his best he wins.”

O’Sullivan will be in action when he defends his Shanghai Masters title in the coming week.

“He is the superstar of snooker,” Hendry added. “He’s the only player who won’t go to China unless he’s getting appearance money, and he’ll get it. As far as I know, no other players are charging appearance money. He is the lone, true star in snooker.

“So that’s a worry. Although there are other players playing an unbelievable standard of snooker. [Neil] Robertson, [Judd] Trump, [Mark] Williams, [Mark] Selby, they’re all unbelievable snooker players. But unfortunately, and I think they know this, he is the one that brings that bit of stardust to the tournament.”

O’Sullivan pulled out of the British Open last month due to injury, but is set to kick off his 2023/24 season at the Shanghai Masters – with the action live on Eurosport and discovery+.