O'Sullivan, who missed the final of the 2025 Snooker World Championship, moved to the Middle East: It's not interesting to fight like this

In the semifinals of the 2025 World Snooker Championship that ended a few days ago, the seven-time champion O'Sullivan lost to the Chinese player Zhao Xintong who participated in the wild card and unfortunately went out. Although "Rocket" obtained an identity card and the right of abode in Hong Kong, China under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme last year, he said after the game that he would temporarily live in the Middle East after leaving the UK, and bluntly said: "It is not interesting to fight like this." ”

O'Sullivan was not satisfied with his performance in the top 4 of the World Championships

The 49-year-old O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, will reach the semi-finals against Chinese player Zhao Xintong. The 28-year-old Zhao Xintong is an amateur player who participated in the wild card this time, but he was ranked 7th in the professional ranking in 2022, but unfortunately in January 2023, he was suspended for 20 months by the World Snooker Tour (WST) and the Chinese Billiards Association for his match-fixing case, but he won the wild card of the professional tour in the 2025 and 26 seasons with his outstanding performance on the Q Tour, and will strive to regain the professional rankings.

O'Sullivan finally lost to Zhao Xintong 7:17 and missed the finals, and he looked quite discouraged in the post-match interview. The BBC quoted him as saying: "I think I'm going to leave the UK this year and move to the Middle East. Let's see how it goes, maybe I'll be back in half a year. Although O'Sullivan has obtained the right of abode in Hong Kong, he did not mention that he will come to Hong Kong, adding: "I will start a new life in other places, I don't know how things will develop." ”

O'Sullivan congratulated Zhao Xintong after the game

For snooker, O'Sullivan also seems to be a little interested, saying: "I will still try to fight snooker, but I don't know what my future will be, snooker is a big part of my life, but I am still thinking about the future, whether I continue to fight or not." He said he would give himself another two years, but hinted at a chance to change his mind, "It doesn't make sense to play like this, it's not good." ”

Speaking about his performance, O'Sullivan said: "I don't know if it's a problem with the club, a problem with the clubhead or a problem with me, I don't know which direction the white ball will go, I'm lost." It's the same in training, it's hard to understand the situation and I can't solve the problem. He said he wouldn't throw it away, "The people in charge of the merchandise want it, so they'll sell it." ”

O'Sullivan said after the game that he would temporarily move to the Middle East

Zhao Xintong reached the final of the World Championships for the first time, and the final will be played against four-time champion Mark Williams on May 4 and 5 Beijing time.