Ronnie O’Sullivan is eyeing a record eighth World Championship before he calls time on his snooker career.
The Rocket, who turns 50 in December, is also vying to become the first player in their 50s to win at the Crucible, though he’s already the oldest after his victory three years ago.
He currently holds seven world titles – leaving him level with snooker legend Stephen Hendry – but O’Sullivan has been heavily critical of his game in recent years leading to fears he could quit the sport.
Only adding to such speculation of an impending retirement was the London-born star’s announcement last week that he’s officially quit the UK for Dubai.
O’Sullivan decided to up sticks after his wife Laila Rouass, who he married in June just months after a reported split, handed him an ultimatum.
Rouass refused to live in Yorkshire, and O’Sullivan strangely felt he had nowhere else to practice in the UK, so it was either Spain or Dubai. The couple eventually chose the latter – a tax-free haven frequented by many a celebrity.
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan is eyeing a record-breaking eighth World Championship
The London-born star’s recent move to Dubai with his wife Laila Rouass sparked fears he could retire from the sport
But the greatest player to ever grace a snooker table has no plans to call time on his career just yet, he revealed this week.
Speaking ahead of his return to the game at the Xi’an Grand Prix on Tuesday, O’Sullivan told The Express: ‘I’ve always said there’s nothing left for me to achieve in snooker, but that’s (an eighth win at the Crucible) all that’s left for me to achieve.
‘I’m going to aim for another two or three world titles, knowing I won’t get three, I probably won’t get two but I might get one.
‘I’m going to aim high and I always think if you aim well above what you want to achieve and if you don’t reach it, you reach somewhere you think you’re happy with.
‘There’s no point saying I’d like to make the quarters of the worlds because that’s probably all I’d do. But if I say I want to win another two or three then I might win one. It’s about pushing my mind beyond the end line to make it possible.’
At his last attempt to conquer the Crucible back in March, O’Sullivan was knocked out in the semi-finals by eventual winner Zhao Xintong.
Speaking about his performance in the tournament, the Brit added: ‘I was close even though I wasn’t playing great. I didn’t have a good cue, I had problems with my tip, it was all over the place. I’m not making excuses.
‘Now I can just play snooker for the next two or three years, there’s only one thing left that anyone talks about which is winning another world title.’
The Rocket, who turns 50 in December, has revealed he has no plans to retire just yet
Just 10 months after reports of a split surfaced, Rouass and O’Sullivan tied the knot earlier this summer
Katie and Rio Ferdinand also recently made the decision to ditch the UK
O’Sullivan became the latest celebrity to join a long list of stars who have moved to Dubai when he announced the news last week.
Amir Khan, Lindsley Lohan and more recently Rio Ferdinand have ditched their lives back home for the UAE, predominantly citing the city’s better quality of living as their motivation.
O’Sullivan’s decision to leave his home-country was however far more snooker-based, he told The Sun.
‘It’s really good, I’ve got a practice facility there which was one of the main reasons for going,’ he said.
‘I was struggling to find somewhere to play. It was either get a train up to Sheffield or try to move to Sheffield. But my wife wasn’t too keen on Sheffield. So she said we either go Spain or Dubai.
‘Really enjoying it out there. Great gyms. I’m enjoying that side of it. I had some friends over there before that played snooker and they’ve helped me get into Dubai life.
‘I’ve met some really nice friends and fitted in really well. So yeah, it’s great.
‘I’m not a sunbather, but I’d much rather the heat than cold, if that makes sense. Spring and autumn are my favourite times.’