‘I wish I shared your excitement’: Ronnie O’Sullivan says record-equalling world title would be ‘anticlimax’

Ronnie O’Sullivan is not thrilled by the prospect of a Crucible return (Nigel French/PA)

Ronnie O’Sullivan insists he could not care less about the prospect of equalling Stephen Hendry’s record of seven Crucible crowns as he prepares to begin the defence of his world snooker title.

In a sign the 45-year-old might be falling out of love with the game again, he went on to admit he would prefer to adopt a non-playing role in the tournament and described how he would treat his time in Sheffield as a “holiday”.