RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has hinted at when he could retire from playing professional snooker.
The seven-time world champion also revealed the three things he wants to do in the future as he looked ahead in his career.
O’Sullivan has suggested in recent weeks he is coming to the end of his playing days.
The Rocket has not played since his surprise exit from the English Open last month.
He later labelled his performance “embarrassing” following the defeat and has admitted he would love to become a running coach when he retires.
First, though, he is hoping to continue for a few more years in search of a record eighth Crucible triumph.
Appearing on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, the 48-year-old explained he wants to come back a different player next year.
Asked if he has a retirement date in mind and knows how long he will keep playing, O’Sullivan said: “I think I’ve got maybe, if I want it, three really good years.
“That depends on if I’m fully devoted to it and I’m kind of like ‘snooker is all I’m going to do for the next three years’. Which I can do.
“But it’s really hard to do when I’m sort of like: ‘I want to do a few days with Jimmy White as a pundit, I want to go and do a few exhibitions, I want to do a few shows,’ because they’re fun.
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“I can still perform, I can still be a top eight player doing that but to fully give yourself the best opportunities it’s about being totally on it, you know. It’s whether I’m prepared to do that.
“I think I will this year, I think I’ve decided. Last year, the World Championships wasn’t a good tournament for me.
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan has three children – two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket’s on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous ‘Snotgate’ row.
Check out all our latest Ronnie O’Sullivan articles.
“I was really gutted at how I played. Wasn’t disappointed I lost, you know, you lose. But the way I played, I wasn’t happy with that.
“I want to try and put that right and come back a different player next year.”
O’Sullivan was beaten in the quarter-finals at this year’s World Championships, losing 13-10 to Stuart Bingham in May.
He had made the last eight by beating Jackson Page and Ryan Day earlier in the tournament.
The world number five has not won a ranking title since, either, with his tally still sitting at 41.
Meanwhile, his absence from the table continues this week after O’Sullivan withdrew from the Wuhan Open.
It comes after he pulled out of last month’s British Open just hours before his opening match.
