O'Sullivan considers Edinburgh withdrawal

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Citywest Irish masters final against John Higgins or Dave Harold tomorrow could be his last match before the Embassy World Championship.

World number one O’Sullivan extend his winning run to 12 games in Dublin tonight with a 6-3 semi-final success over Paul Hunter.

But, while looking forward to his best of 17 frames meeting with Higgins or Harold, O’Sullivan says he does not relish the prospect of competing in the Regal Scottish Open starting in Edinburgh next Saturday.

And the outspoken Essex professional revealed he may even miss the penultimate ranking tournament of the 2002-2003 season to recharge his batteries for snooker’s number one competition.

O’Sullivan announced his plan after qualifying for his third major final of the season and his second in a row.

“I don’t know whether I’ll be going to Edinburgh, I need a rest and my aim is to be right for Sheffield,” he said.

“Nothing else matters as much as being fully focussed for the World Championship.”

If O’Sullivan follows up with this threat then he could land in disciplinary trouble with the game’s governing body.

Players are allowed to withdraw without punishment on valid health grounds.

Indeed, Welshman Ryan Day pulled out of the current competition because of a liver disorder.

But it would be first for a leading professional to miss a ranking tournament for a rest and to pass up the opportunity of substantial prize money and ranking points.

“The schedule is so tight and my main goal for the whole nine months this season has been to do well at Sheffield. If that means pulling out of Edinburgh then that might have to be done,” added O’Sullivan.

“I have to look after number one and I know myself better than anyone else.

“But we’ll have to see what happens. I’ll sit down with my team and do what I think is best for Ronnie O’Sullivan.”

The Scottish Open starts on April 5 with O’Sullivan due to meet Scot Drew Henry or Sean Storey 48 hours later.

“My life is precious to me and it’s not going to be dictated by snooker,” he added.

Should O’Sullivan withdraw, it would be a big boost to players such as arch-rival Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry trying to finish on top of the rankings after the World Championship in May.

“I don’t play this game for the results or the recognition. It would be nice to be number one but there are other goals in my life.”

Tomorrow, O’Sullivan chases his second ranking title in two weeks after his win over seven times world champion Hendry in the European Open.

And Higgins or Harold, who meet in tonight’s second semi-final must be on top of their game to stop him.

Yorkshireman Hunter tried his best making breaks of 118 and 101. But O’Sullivan was always in control despite losing the opening frame making breaks of 118, 42, 76 and 78.

Commenting on O’Sullivan’s thoughts of scratching from the Scottish Open, a spokesman for World Snooker, the games governing body, said: “Of course we want Ronnie to play in the Scottish Open but we can’t prejudge the issue as he’s yet to withdraw from the tournament.”