Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has yet to confirm whether he will compete in the 2025 World Championship, which begins this Saturday at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
The seven-time world champion has not played professionally since January 2025, when he withdrew from the Championship League in Leicester before his final Group Three match.
Speculation has been mounting about 'The Rocket's' return to the sport's biggest stage.
O'Sullivan recently revealed he still has the "energy and hunger" to compete, but fans will have to wait until the last minute to learn if he'll participate in the tournament.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has insisted he is 'trying to find his own game' ahead of the World Championship
PA
In an interview with TNT Sports, O'Sullivan has opened up about his recent work away from the spotlight.
"I've taken some time out and I've just been working on trying to correct a few things and instead of having somebody else's method of playing snooker, I'm trying to rediscover my own method of playing," O'Sullivan said.
The 49-year-old revealed he has been working on this approach for about six weeks.
"I'm making little breakthroughs, but every time you make a breakthrough you go back and at my age you think, 'Is it really worth it?'" he admitted.
Despite these doubts, O'Sullivan added: "I'm still fascinated by the game, which is good."
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O'Sullivan shares the record for most World Championship titles with snooker legend Stephen Hendry, having claimed seven Crucible victories.
His last triumph in Sheffield came in 2022, when he defeated fellow Englishman Judd Trump 18-13 in the final.
Competing this year would give him the opportunity to secure an unprecedented eighth world title.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the World Snooker Championship on seven separate occasionsPAHowever, the pursuit of records doesn't appear to motivate the snooker great.
"I've never really been that competitive for titles, for records," he told TNT Sports.
When asked what drives him, O'Sullivan explained: "Just the pursuit of playing the game to the highest possible standard. I'm in competition with myself."
O'Sullivan has indicated his decision on whether to participate will come at the last possible moment.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan hasn't played since January as uncertainty continues to surround Rocket ahead of the World Snooker ChampionshipPA"I'll probably make a decision on maybe the 17th or 18th of April," he told TNT Sports.
This is not the first time O'Sullivan has stepped away from snooker, having famously taken a break after his 2012 World Championship victory.
He returned the following year to defend his title.
"I'd love to be able to go there and play, I'd love to be able to have the confidence to be able to get my cue out and go and play snooker," O'Sullivan said of this year's tournament."I just need to give myself as much time as possible."
