Stephen Hendry makes big Ronnie O'Sullivan retirement claim - 'He's earning so much money now'
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Stephen Hendry has predicted that Ronnie O'Sullivan will be the first of snooker's legendary "Class of 92" to retire from the sport.
Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan, now 49, began his professional career in the 1992/93 season alongside fellow icons John Higgins and Mark Williams.
The trio have amassed an impressive 14 world titles between them and continue to compete at snooker's highest level.
Speaking on his show "Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips", the Scottish legend told Williams directly that he believes O'Sullivan will be the first to "hang up his cue".
Stephen Hendry has predicted that Ronnie O'Sullivan will be the first of snooker's legendary "Class of 92" to retire from the sport
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Hendry elaborated on his prediction, stating: "Who's going to pull the trigger first and say that's it, that's enough? I think it will be Ronnie."
The snooker legend explained his reasoning had nothing to do with O'Sullivan's standard of play.
"He's earning so much money now, I don't know if the competitive spirit is still there, I don't know," Hendry added.
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Stephen Hendry thinks Ronnie O'Sullivan 'earns so much now' it's hard for the snooker icon to stay motivated
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O'Sullivan's recent schedule has shown signs of selectivity, with the champion recently withdrawing from the Scottish Open before travelling to Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.
O'Sullivan's next competitive appearance will be at the Masters, where he faces John Higgins in the first round on January 12.
The Rocket has outlined his challenging schedule leading up to the tournament.
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"I get back to the UK on maybe January 3 or 4," O'Sullivan said. "I'd been in Saudi Arabia. I will be in Macau for a week. Then in China for 3-4 days before coming home."
He acknowledged this preparation isn't ideal, noting: "At the moment I've hardly played any matches since August. It is what it is."
This contrasts with his preparation for the previous Masters, where he entered after victories in the Shanghai Masters and UK Championship.
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O'Sullivan remains philosophical about his future in the sport, saying: "Take the long view, it might not happen this year, or next year."
"Just keep on playing, enjoying it, having fun and see what happens," he added.
The champion revealed he has no specific New Year's resolutions beyond staying healthy and happy.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams remain big rivals in snooker
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He maintains an active fitness regime, recently returning to running after a year-long break due to knee problems.
"I'm in the gym a lot," O'Sullivan said. "I'm doing a little bit of running, a lot of gym work, keeping fit because I think it's good for my mind and stuff like that."
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