Ronnie O'Sullivan hints at retirement after World Championship defeat

Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a heavy 17-7 defeat to Zhao Xintong in the World Snooker Championship semi-final, prompting him to suggest he may retire within two years if he cannot resolve ongoing issues with his game. O'Sullivan's performance has been hampered by equipment problems, including mid-match changes to his cue tip and ferrule, which failed to improve his play and led to further confusion and lack of confidence at the table. Zhao's dominant display, including an eight-frame whitewash in the second session, was hailed by commentators as a possible 'changing of the guard' in snooker. Despite O'Sullivan's past achievements and efforts to adapt his equipment, he expressed uncertainty about how to fix his form, acknowledging a growing appreciation for his earlier successes. The defeat marked a difficult year for O'Sullivan, who had already taken a significant break from competition and struggled to find consistency. Zhao's performance was widely praised, highlighting a major shift in the competitive landscape of the sport.