Fresh from booking a record extending 23rd Crucible quarter final, Ronnie O’Sullivan used his post match press conference to shift the spotlight from his own pursuit of an eighth crown to what he sees as an urgent structural problem at home.
“China has purpose built academies everywhere you look,” he said. “Kids there get 10 tables, nutrition advice and psychology support before they are 15. We need that here if we want the next British world champion.”
O’Sullivan’s remarks come at a time when Chinese players make up almost a fifth of the tour. He believes the UK risks falling behind unless local councils, governing bodies and private sponsors work together to create regional high performance hubs. While praising Sheffield’s storied Star Academy, he argued that one venue is no longer enough.
“Think of football. One club academy cannot service the whole league,” he told reporters. The Rocket revealed he has already spoken informally with former WST chairman Barry Hearn about a blueprint that would see unused warehouse space in five English cities converted into year round training centres with scholarships for under eighteens.
Hearn has publicly supported the idea, noting that prize money growth depends on a steady flow of marketable new stars. For now, O’Sullivan’s focus returns to the table, yet his willingness to use the sport’s flagship event as a policy pulpit highlights a broader commitment to snooker’s long term health, not merely his own medal haul.
