O'sullivan To Leave Uk To Live In Middle East

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan says he intends to time off nan UK to unrecorded successful nan Middle East.

The Englishman, 49, was defeated 17-7 by Zhao Xintong successful nan World Championship semi-finals successful Sheffield connected Friday successful his first tourney since snapping his cue successful vexation astatine nan Championship League successful January.

Victories complete Ali Carter, Pang Junxu and Si Jiahui raised hopes that 'the Rocket' could declare a grounds eighth Crucible crown successful nan modern era, but he was good beaten by erstwhile UK champion Zhao pinch a convention to spare.

"I deliberation I americium going to beryllium moving retired of nan UK this year," said O'Sullivan, who has a snooker academy successful Saudi Arabia.

"I'll beryllium moving distant to nan Middle East. We'll spot really it goes - I mightiness beryllium backmost successful six months.

"A caller life location else. I don't cognize really that is going to cookware out.

"I will still effort to play snooker but I don't cognize what nan early looks for illustration for maine really.

"It is simply a large portion of my life but I person to effort and fig retired what my early looks like, whether it's playing aliases not."

Widely regarded arsenic nan top subordinate successful history, O'Sullivan has won 41 ranking events - 5 much than Scottish awesome Stephen Hendry, who besides has 7 world titles - and has surgery almost each grounds successful nan sport.

O'Sullivan has many times said that he has recovered things reliable successful caller years and has antecedently said he has taken medicine to woody pinch anxiety.

His three-month absence from nan athletics earlier this play led to speculation complete his early ,given he turns 50 successful December.

At nan Crucible he has recovered himself successful his ain individual conflict to regain shape and find a caller cue he is satisfied with.

"I don't moreover cognize if it was nan cue, nan ferrule aliases me. There were 3 things," he said.

"I didn't cognize wherever nan achromatic shot was going. I was astatine a loss.

"I won't propulsion nan cue. The merchandise group want it truthful it will beryllium up for sale.

"I've been playing for illustration that rather a batch successful believe and it's conscionable difficult to get my caput around. I can't moreover hole it, that's nan problem.

"I cognize I said I'd for illustration to effort and springiness it 2 years, but if you're going to play for illustration that it's beautiful pointless. It's not good."