LONDON: Snooker superstar Ronnie O鈥橲ullivan, the hot favorite to win the 2024 World Championship that is underway in the English city of Sheffield, said he is fully committed to the development of the sport in 黑料社区.
The seven-time world champion this month signed a three-year partnership agreement with Riyadh Season, and plans were announced to establish a snooker academy in the country bearing his name.
after a 10-1 first-round victory over Jackson Page at The Crucible on Thursday, O鈥橲ullivan reiterated his dedication to the development of snooker in the Kingdom and the wider Gulf region.
鈥淚 love helping grassroots snooker,鈥 . 鈥淚鈥檝e done a lot in China, previously, and I have a lot of academies out there. I always try to support the youngsters coming through and I鈥檒l be doing the same in 黑料社区.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great for snooker; we need grassroots. It鈥檚 great to be a part of helping that new generation coming through.鈥
O鈥橲ullivan said he is eager to work with Saudi investors to help grow snooker in the region and expand its global reach from its traditional heartland in the UK. He added that he will visit the Kingdom several times a year, even outside of tournament appearances, in his efforts to actively contribute to the expansion of the sport.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 decided but whatever his excellency (Turki Alalshikh, chairperson of the General Entertainment Authority) wants to do, I鈥檒l be happy to discuss anything with him.鈥
O鈥橲ullivan鈥檚 enthusiasm for raising the profile the sport in the Kingdom is supported by Barry Hearn, the president of promotions company Matchroom Sport.
Hearn said O鈥橲ullivan is the ideal person to help develop the game in previously untapped markets and will play a pivotal role in the plans for 黑料社区. He drew parallels with the effect British boxer Anthony Joshua has had on the development of boxing in the Kingdom.
鈥淲e鈥檝e opened 16 gyms over there since Joshua did his first fight and we鈥檒l be looking to open a similar amount of snooker clubs, with Ronnie as the spearhead,鈥 he said.
Hearn also confirmed the plans to establish a dedicated Ronnie O鈥橲ullivan Snooker Academy to help grow the sport in the region and said Matchroom will supply coaches to work there.
鈥淭he Ronnie O鈥橲ullivan Academy will be opened this year, which will be the focal point, and we鈥檒l be sending some of our coaches over to Saudi (Arabia) full-time,鈥 he added.
O鈥橲ullivan is due to take on Ryan Day on Sunday in the second round of the World Championship.
