Ronnie O'Sullivan backs dissenting players in stand-off with World Snooker Tour

09/10/2023 07:50

A string of top players are opting to play in lucrative exhibitions in China instead of the Northern Ireland Open this month, despite World Snooker (WST) threatening them with legal action.

John Higgins, Mark Selby, Luca Brecel, Ali Carter and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh are all heading to Macau for an exhibition event, snubbing the opportunity to play in the ranking tournament in Belfast.

The Daily Mail report that WST the five players were told they were breaching contracts, sent emails and letters warning them of disciplinary action, but the snooker stars believe the threats are baseless as they have not entered the Northern Ireland Open in the first place.

There is also a Shanghai exhibition event set for 17-19 October, during the Northern Ireland Open qualifiers, and featuring the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Judd Trump and Ding Junhui.

These top 16 players would not have to play in the qualifiers, so there is no clash for them, but WST initially tried to block players from competing in them before changing that position and instead asking players not to promote the Shanghai event on social media.

O’Sullivan has hit out at WST attempts to stop players competing in the Chinese events, saying it is ‘b****cks’ that scare tactics are being used.

‘Players are just trying to earn money, it is their choice,’ he said. ‘And they are realising their value. They are trying to restrict us. Those involved in Shanghai were sent letters advising them not to play.