Snooker insiders warn against treating O’Sullivan’s quote about relocating from London as his final decision
Ronnie O’Sullivan has not necessarily abandoned plans to deepen his ties with Hong Kong by suggesting he may move to the Middle East, local snooker insiders have said.
The seven-time world snooker champion obtained Hong Kong residency last October under the city’s Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, but this month said he may relocate to the Middle East from his long-term base in Essex, near London. “I might be back in six months,” the 49-year-old said.
Noting that O’Sullivan had a snooker academy in Dubai, Benson Kwok Joon-fung, Hong Kong’s director of immigration, on Sunday told a radio programme: “It’s not surprising he would choose to develop in the Middle East. But he has also been recently preparing to open his snooker academy and club in Hong Kong.”
Sources on Monday said they expected O’Sullivan to take his time before finalising his next move.
“Sometimes we need to filter a bit, because Ronnie just says things,” a source who has had dealings with O’Sullivan said. “Sometimes he might not mean it, or remember what he said.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan struggles during the World Championship. Photo: Action Images via Reuters
The Englishman had told the Post in December that he would like to “open many, many snooker and pool halls in Hong Kong” and find a flat in Kowloon.
