Ronnie O’Sullivan admits ‘really different’ feature means snooker will never have its own Luke Littler
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has revealed why snooker will never produce a teen sensation like Luke Littler.
The 48-year-old legend is attempting to make history this month by claiming a record eighth World Snooker Championship crown.
‘The Rocket’ is amongst a host of veteran players to make it through to the latter stages at the Crucible.
Jak Jones shocked Judd Trump to reach the semis.
He is now the youngest player left in the competition aged 30.
Unlike 17-year-old Littler’s incredible introduction to the big stage in the darts inspiring a generation of youngsters to take up the sport, snooker is still relying on its experienced names.
Now O’Sullivan has claimed that it is the duration of matches that is the reason why they are failing to produce new younger talents.
He said: “With snooker, there’s so many in-between shots, there’s so much to learn, there’s so much safety.
“In darts, once you get the action right, it should in theory go where you want.
“If you make it to the final here, you’re playing one match for maybe around 10 hours.
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“Whereas in darts, you’re only playing for maybe an hour to two hours. It’s really different.”
The marketing of the sport has come under huge scrutiny going into the showpiece at the Crucible with talk of switching the World Championship to Saudi Arabia or China.
Several stars are also being offered the chance to join a LIV-style breakaway tour.
Kyren Wilson is one of those to admit they are considering the move with Stephen Maguire also issuing a “come-and-get-me” plea.
O’Sullivan has penned a three-year ambassadorial deal with Saudi Arabia to commit his future to the WST.
However, he has previously voiced concerns about the nature of snooker.
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He controversially said in 2022 that he would actively deter his own kids from becoming pro players.
O’Sullivan stated: “I think being in a snooker room, a dark room, playing as most snooker players do for five-six hours a day – they don’t talk, they don’t communicate, it’s a lonely life on the tour.
“I want my kids to be sociable. I want them to be out in the fresh air. I want them to have a good life.
“And I just look at snooker and I think that for all but a handful of players, it’s a real struggle.”