Ronnie O’Sullivan‘s dad has hit out at the ‘barbaric’ treatment of his son, who has been given just 48 hours to recover from his gruelling World Grand Prix triumph over Judd Trump before playing again this afternoon. 

‘The Rocket’ meets Alfie Burden at the Barnsley Metrodome for a World Open qualification clash. Providing he qualifies for the main tournament in March then there will be no time to rest for the seven-time world champion who is set to play at the Welsh Open, Players Championship and Championship League before the event commences.

O’Sullivan Sr is not best pleased with his son’s congested run of games and let his thoughts be known on X, formerly Twitter.

“Win a big tournament and given 24 hours to recover is barbaric,” he wrote. “Then with no sleep or rest or preparation travel to Barnsley for one game to qualify for the tournament in China. It’s not good at all.

“Top 16 should automatically go to China. No rewards. Because baz earner loves good or bad publicity as it’s all the same to him. Especially when a top seed goes out because of fatigue. Every pro in any sport needs time to recover. Baz earner and the hampster wheel.

“China want to know who’s coming over to play so they can promote the tournament and get players’ logos to wear promoting their companies. Barbaric system created by WST and the Gestapo that are killing the players.”

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Ronnie O’Sullivan Snr slams ‘barbaric system created by WST’

Ronnie O’Sullivan Snr has hit out at snooker bosses with the ongoing dispute over scheduling on the tour raging on.

World number one O’Sullivan has been a prolific winner on the World Snooker Tour over the last couple of months.

A record-extending eighth UK Championship title in December was followed by an eighth career Masters crown at the Alexandra Palace earlier this month.

Immediately following the conclusion of the latter in London, the World Grand Prix commenced the next day at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.

Despite the quick turnaround, O’Sullivan at times produced his best snooker of the 2023/24 season so far as he romped to another ranking title.

A scintillating display saw him thrash Ding Junhui in the semi-finals before a more hard-fought performance helped him to overcome rival Judd Trump in the final.

After a taxing couple of months, the 48 year-old has indicated that he will skip some of the upcoming tournaments on the calendar.

Yet O’Sullivan does intend to participate in the World Open in China in March, meaning he’ll have to attend the qualifiers this week in Barnsley.

Even though he’s the world number one, the Rocket has somewhat strangely not had his round-of-128 fixture held over to the venue stages.

Defending World Open champion Trump, reigning world champion Luca Brecel, and the top two ranked Chinese competitors – Ding and Zhang Anda – have all had their ties deferred until the tournament begins proper.

But O’Sullivan will be forced into the qualifying cubicles on Tuesday if he wants to guarantee his spot in Yushan.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, O’Sullivan’s father has taken the opportunity to have a pop at those in charge of the sport.

“Getting ready for Barnsley tomorrow, moped gassed up and ready to go for a qualifying match for China,” Ronnie O’Sullivan Snr wrote on X.

Lovely jubbly, thanks Bazzer (Barry Hearn) at WST. Win a big tournament and given 24 hours to recover is barbaric.”

“Then with no sleep or rest or preparation travel to Barnsley for one game to qualify for the tournament in China. It’s not good at all.

“Top 16 should automatically go to China. No rewards. Because Baz earner loves good or bad publicity as it’s all the same to him.

“Especially when a top seed goes out because of fatigue. Every pro in any sport needs time to recover. Baz earner and the hampster wheel.

“China want to know who’s coming over to play so they can promote the tournament and get players logos to wear promoting there companies.

“Barbaric system created by WST and the Gestapo that are killing the players.”

Alfie Burden is due to be O’Sullivan’s opponent at the Barnsley Metrodome on Tuesday at 7pm UTC.