Snooker fans have taken aim at Ronnie O'Sullivan for his part in the sport signing a new three-year partnership with Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia hosted its first snooker event earlier this year with O'Sullivan winning the World Masters of Snooker.
The tournament featured a new golden ball that created the opportunity for a 167 break, although nobody was able to achieve the feat.
And Saudi Arabia's foothold in snooker isn't going anywhere it seems as the World Snooker Tour announced a new deal where the Riyadh Season will become an official partner of the World Championships.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has signed a new deal with Saudi Arabia
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The deal raises further questions on where the World Snooker Championships will be held beyond 2027 with the Crucible's contract running out that year.
O'Sullivan has committed to playing in both the World Masters of Snooker and Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters events for the duration of the contract.
He said: "Playing in Riyadh last month was an amazing experience, I love the atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the fans.
"We can make snooker huge in Saudi Arabia.
"So I am excited by this chance to work to grow the sport there and the opportunity to coach the best young talent and pass on my experience.
"I’m also relishing the chance to play in more big events in the Kingdom, and to work alongside HE Turki Alalshikh on his ambitions."
But O'Sullivan's involvement in the deal hasn't gone down well with some of his fans from back in the UK.
One social media user wrote: "Sell out O'Sullivan."
Another complained: "Everyone involved should be ashamed."
An official partnership between Riyadh Season and the World Snooker Tour aimed at promoting the sport of snooker in the Kingdom, with the world's number one ranked player, Ronnie O'Sullivan, serving as the ambassador of the game in Saudi Arabia 🎱❤️🇸🇦#RiyadhSeason#موسم_الرياض pic.twitter.com/Pxrb3tnfVN
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) April 16, 2024
A third moaned: "You are going to destroy this beautiful sport."
One other said: "Now we know why Ronnie talking nonsense about moving the world championship to Saudi the other day."
Another posted: "No fans want this, so why force it on us?"
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With Luca Brecel taking the No 1 seed spot, O'Sullivan has also been put on the same side of the draw as Judd Trump with the pair potentially meeting in the semi-finals.
