Ronnie O’Sullivan pictured on the front of the Crucible in biggest hint yet star will play World Championship
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has yet to publicly declare if he is playing in the World Snooker Championship – but the signs literally look promising.
The seven-time world champion is featured on a huge display hanging outside the Crucible in Sheffield.
O’Sullivan has not competed since smashing his favourite cue to pieces in January.
The Rocket dropped out of the Championship League and has since sat out the last four months on medical grounds.
SunSport understands O’Sullivan intends to play at the Crucible, where play starts on Saturday.
The 49-year-old has been drawn against arch-rival Ali Carter in the first round.
O’Sullivan’s image features on a large mural hanging outside the Sheffield arena.
Defending champion Kyren Wilson is front and centre on the giant image.
Wilson is flanked by John Higgins, Mark Williams, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, 2023 champion Luca Brecel and Ronnie.
O’Sullivan spoke to SunSport earlier this week and declared he would be happy to just “win a match” at this year’s tournament.
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The Rocket, a seven-time champ, has appeared at every World Championship since 1993.
He recently rattled off two 147s in practice, getting to grips with his new cue.
But O’Sullivan reckons on current form, he would be “lucky” to be placed in the world’s top 32.
He told SunSport: “At the moment, I would be happy to win a match.
“If I turn up at Sheffield and I win a match, I would go ‘that’s a huge victory for me’. It really would be.
“I had a spell in 2022 from January until the world championship where I won it and beat Judd Trump in the final and felt great.
“Other than that, the last four years have been so appalling I’m not sure what to expect really.
“In 2013, I know I hadn’t picked a cue up for nine months but the minute I did pick my cue up I felt like I couldn’t miss.
“On the practice table I felt like I was hitting the balls as sweet as ever. My confidence was there.
Inside Ronnie O'Sullivan's 'Snotgate' rivalry
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN bitter feud with Ali Carter hit the headlines earlier this year in the Masters final, which the world No1 won 10-7.
As they walked past each other, the Rocket shoulder barged his rival in shocking scenes.
After the match, Carter added fuel to the fire as he alleged O’Sullivan violently cleared his nose and labelled him “disgusting”.
He added: It’s outrageous behaviour from a top professional. If it gets swept under the carpet then for me, it’s not good.
“Did we have any words of exchange? No. I’ve got no words for him at all.”
O’Sullivan responded, putting his middle finger up in a press conference while saying: “For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what? He can have one of them.
“He can sit on it as far as I’m concerned. I don’t give a f***. You know what he’s like, everybody knows what he’s like. He’s got issues.
“F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls.
“I don’t give a f***. The more he brings it on, the more I f***ing punish him every time.”
“This is completely different. If I was to be honest, I’d ask myself this question . . . where would I rank myself on performance compared to where everyone else is at the moment?
“I’d probably say I’d be lucky if I made the top 32.”
O’Sullivan’s crunch draw in round one sees him go up against arch-rival Carter.
The two have history, with Ronnie accused of barging his opponent during a Crucible showdown six years ago.
And last year, there was the fallout from their ‘Snotgate’ row following the Masters final.
Carter alleged O’Sullivan violently cleared his nose – like a long-distance runner might do – onto the carpet.
A furious O’Sullivan hit back after the match: “He can sit on it as far as I’m concerned. I don’t give a f***.
“F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it.
“I don’t care, grow some balls. I don’t give a f***.”