Imagine being one of the greatest of all time in your sport, and then suddenly discovering a new passion that makes you want to start all over again. That is exactly where Ronnie O'Sullivan finds himself right now! 🚀
The snooker legend has been spending time in the Chinese mainland, diving deep into a different kind of cue sport: Chinese 8-ball (also known as heyball). And according to O'Sullivan, he's loving it so much that he might actually retire from snooker completely to switch gears! 😱
But wait, what exactly is Chinese 8-ball? For those who aren't billiards buffs, think of it as a high-energy version of pool. It's designed for speed and maximum audience enjoyment, making it a total vibe for the modern era. Here is the breakdown:
- The Table: It uses a smaller snooker table (2.74m instead of the usual 3.66m).
- The Balls: US-style spots-and-stripes balls that are slightly larger (57mm) than snooker balls (52.5mm).
- The Goal: The main mission is to pot the 8-ball to win the frame.
O'Sullivan recently put his skills to the test at the Huacai Billiards World Open in Deqing, located in the eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang. True to his personality, Ronnie kept the crowd entertained by commentating on his own play during an exhibition match. 🎤
When it came to the actual competition, the "Rocket" showed he's still got the magic, defeating Ivan Kakovskiy 15-9 and Suung Kim 15-12. Although his run ended at the last-32 stage after a match against Zheng Xiaohuai, the experience left him totally hooked. He told CGTN that the thrill of the game is enough to make him consider a permanent switch.
Whether he stays in snooker or goes all-in on heyball, one thing is for sure: Ronnie O'Sullivan always keeps us guessing! 🌍💬✨
Reference(s):
Ronnie O'Sullivan: I may give up snooker completely for Chinese 8-ball
cgtn.com
