Ronnie O’Sullivan is ‘deadly dull’ claims Barry Hearn after Crawley English Open rant

Barry Hearn has labelled Ronnie O’Sullivan “deadly dull” after the five-time world champion’s latest outburst criticising the English Open’s venue in Crawley.

‘The Rocket’ also bemoaned having to play against opponents who are not “top players” because it makes it tougher to have a “proper” match.

But World Snooker chairman Hearn has dismissed O’Sullivan’s views, insisting he is now dull and that the game has never been in better shape.

“He is becoming so dull isn’t he? I mean God almighty,” Hearn told talkSPORT. “I listened to him last night, ramble, ramble, it’s like everyone’s playing games with Ronnie because all you’ve got to say is something to him and he will automatically disagree with you.

“I think he’s best left out there with the fairies at the bottom of the garden.

“Forced? It’s like Tiger Woods saying, ‘I don’t want to play someone who’s not ranked in the top 10.’ I don’t lose my patience, I used to find him quite amusing but now I find him deadly dull. I find him so boring. I think he’s the greatest player in the world, I love to watch him play snooker, he is fabulous entertainment, but once he gets into a studio and goes on a rant…

“The game has never been in a better place, there’s never been more money, never been more opportunity.

“When Ronnie was quiet the prize money was £3.5m for the season, but he don’t stop talking now it’s £16m. Yes there are kids coming through the ranks and yes he will have to play them and yes that kid is ‘up for none’ because he’s playing Ronnie O’Sullivan!

“He doesn’t have to play in anything, he can sit at home all day, watch the tele, listen to you on the radio. ‘Ronnie picks and chooses what he plays in, now he wants to pick and choose who he plays. Enough of all this nonsense!”