MATCHROOM snooker chief Barry Hearn has admitted that Ronnie O’Sullivan can be “a pain in the a**e” – but has earned the right to be.
O’Sullivan, 48, is the World Snooker Tour’s biggest critic despite being its star attraction.
The Rocket is regularly guilty of calling out schedules, venues and even referees.
In May, he told the media that Ally Pally was “disgusting” and made him “feel ill”.
But current President of World Snooker Hearn said he has come to terms with the fact “genius” O’Sullivan will never toe the line.
Speaking on his podcast, Hearn said: “The one thing I’ve learned as I get older is that geniuses are different.
“They’re a different type of person than you normally come across and the danger is you treat them the same as you treat an ordinary person.
“I’m not being disrespectful to the other players, but geniuses are different. Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins was different. You can’t cater for them.
“In many ways, you have to give them that rope because they are your entertainment factor. They’re your wow factor.
“If you got them saying, yes, sir, no, sir, they wouldn’t be the same animal.
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“And by the way, there is absolutely no chance that Ronnie O’Sullivan is ever going to say, yes, sir, no, sir.
“Ronnie can be a pain in the a**e for me and for snooker, but we’d be so much poorer without him.
“You can’t ignore the rules per se, but what you can do is give a little bit of rope and understand that he’s coming at it from a different perspective than you because he’s the genius and you’re not.
“To my mind, when I watch him on a complicated break, it’s Renoir putting together a masterpiece.”
O’Sullivan is aiming for a historic eighth world championship next year – a win that will solidify his claim as the greatest player ever.
He said he’d quit snooker if it were to replicate darts with walk out songs or if the Crucible is ditched for a venue in Saudi Arabia.
O’Sullivan joked with talkSPORT: “I’d probably definitely retire! I’d be like I’m out of here now.”
Meanwhile British Open semi-finalist Mark Allen slammed the conditions at the British Open as “absolutely embarrassing”.
Hearn is the founder and president of Matchroom Sport and has worked in boxing, snooker, darts and football during his career.
His son Eddie now manages the boxing side of the business.
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.
