Ronnie O Sullivan - Cunt or Genius

[Master]

Ronnie O'Sullivan criticised after turning down 'too cheap' 147 at Welsh Open.

Ronnie O'Sullivan was criticised by World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn for turning down the chance of a maximum 147 break at the Welsh Open because the £10,000 prize money was "too cheap".

O'Sullivan, 40, potted 14 reds and 13 blacks before opting for an easier pink as he made a 146 to beat Barry Pinches 4-1 in the first round.

He told BBC Sport: "If it had been more, I'd have gone for the 147."

Hearn described O'Sullivan's actions as "unacceptable" and "disrespectful".

He said: "This is not a crime, but a shame.

"Players have a duty to the fans to deliver the best standard and entertainment they can. Anything less than playing to their best ability is unacceptable and disrespectful to the paying public."

The £10,000, which is boosted by the £2000 on offer for the highest break of the tournament, is a rolling prize fund at ranking events which has not been won since Neil Robertson made a 147 at the UK Championship last year.

Englishman O'Sullivan had scored 80 in the break when he asked an official what the prize was for the highest break. He also asked the commentary box for information and looked visibly disappointed when told he could win up to £12,000.

"I knew it was £10,000. I could have done it, but I didn't think the prize was worthy of a 147. So I've tried to let it build up until it's worthy and then go for it," he said.

"It's like going into a Mercedes garage and when they say that you can have the car for £3,000, you reply, 'No way, that's too cheap. I'm not buying it for that'.

[Master]

Ronnie O'Sullivan is "close" to being bigger than snooker, says the sport's chairman Barry Hearn.

O'Sullivan turned down a maximum 147 break at the Welsh Open saying the £10,000 prize money was "too cheap"

He potted 14 reds and 13 blacks before opting for an easier pink as he made a 146 to beat Barry Pinches 4-1.

"Without personality and characters, sport dies," Hearn told BBC Radio 5 live. "O'Sullivan is the biggest character in the sport."

Five-time world champion O'Sullivan had scored 80 in the break when he asked an official what the prize was for the highest break. He also asked the commentary box for information and looked visibly disappointed when told he could win up to £12,000.

The £10,000, boosted by the £2000 on offer for the highest break of the tournament, is a rolling prize fund at ranking events which has not been won since Neil Robertson made a 147 at the UK Championship last year.

[Memphis]

I don't think O'Sullivan is that great a character to be honest. Blinding snooker player no doubt about that. But take a cue out of his hand and I find him about as interesting as a stick of celery. His continual self loathing, will I wont I bullshit got old a long time ago.

If he's letting the pot build for another event fine, make enough to win the frame then miss, simple. Don't get one black away (assuming he potted the rest) and then jack it in with some Charlie Big Potatoes nonsense. He looked like a right look how clever/important I am mug cunt.

What would have been funny would be if his opponent put the fat end of his cue around his boat for being a twat.

[Fenster]

He was a flash spoiled cunt when he was a teenager and has never changed. No respect for the fans, no idea the value of 10k to non-silverspoon born bods.

[Master]

That's 2 votes for being a cunt.

[Memphis]

The Beeb have been on it and shown a video of his fellow pro's talking about Ronnie. I don't know how recent it is but all of them of course say fantastic player blah blah. Every one of them though you could see was trying to use words other than 'he's a right cunt'

[Dia bando]

10 grand that's a good bit of money the rocket is a idiot, yes he has a face you could smack I hope Ronnie grows up sometime a bit of a ass hole.

[Master]

He was wearing a hair pin last time I was watching him today. What a dick.

[X]

Yes, but he truly annihilated that Chinese guy didn't he.

Century break, 98, century and century to win 4-0. The other guy potted 8 balls in the whole match.

[erics44]

probly made more than 10 grand out of the publicity for deliberately making 146

should go down as the best break in snooker history

[Master]

Watch this cut. Click on to the snooker link in highlights

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/35106599