Ronnie O’Sullivan is in action at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, which is live on TNT Sports and discovery+. Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn has been asked to share his favorite O’Sullivan memory, and he reveals it made him nervous when he was just a teenager. Hearn also explains why he thinks the Crucible is such a special sporting venue.
Hearn on best O’Sullivan memory – ‘I was quite nervous’
Eddie Hearn has recounted his favourite memory of Ronnie O’Sullivan and how the experience made him “quite nervous”.
Matchroom chairman Hearn was asked for his favourite O’Sullivan memory as the seven-time world champion begins his latest Crucible campaign in a World Championship that is live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
“When I was doing work experience at Matchroom in the summer when I was 17, I had to go and drive Ronnie’s passport round to his house in Chigwell. And I was quite nervous actually,” Hearn told TNT Sports.
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“I knocked on the door. He wasn’t home, his mum was, and I just said, ‘thank you Mrs O’Sullivan’, something like that.”
Hearn also admitted his reaction was “Thank God” when O’Sullivan confirmed he would play at this tournament just two days before it started.
Matchroom owns 51% of World Snooker Tour, and Hearn has been at the Crucible in the role that his father – former Matchroom chairman Barry – often took.
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The younger Hearn was asked for his favourite Crucible memory, and he picked two moments from the 1980s.
“Although it broke the heart of every Hearn in Essex, probably [Steve] Davis against [Dennis] Taylor. It wasn’t very memorable for us,” Hearn said.
“And also probably Davis winning his first World Championship (in 1981), when my old man ran down the stairs.
“It’s very similar, if you watch some of my celebrations in boxing. We have a very good way of making fools of ourselves in the moment, but actually not caring at all.”
