Ronnie O'Sullivan criticises 'lazy' snooker chiefs after Hong Kong Masters success - 'we need bigger crowds'

Ronnie O'Sullivan has berated «lazy» UK snooker chiefs after playing before a world record crowd approaching 9,000 fans at the Hong Kong Masters on Sunday. O'Sullivan admits the four-day invitational event at the Hong Kong Coliseum has changed the face of what snooker can achieve, comparing the tournament to the ATP tennis finals at London's O2 Arena. Ad The world champion and world No.

1 believes the first Hong Kong Masters at the city's Hong Kong Coliseum set a new standard for a sport that first rose to prominence when characters of the green baize dominated terrestrial television in the UK four decades ago. Snooker‘He does things that make you go wow!’ – Carragher says O’Sullivan is in his top 3 sporting GOATsAN HOUR AGO “It’s probably the best tournament I’ve ever played in,” he said. “This tournament has just changed snooker.

Now there’s a new benchmark. “I think in the UK, they maybe get a bit lazy and are just happy for it to be on TV," said O'Sullivan after collecting £100,000 with a 6-4 final win over local icon Marco Fu. «Sometimes you’re playing in front of 30, 40 people and it’s really difficult to get motivated.

You need to feel the energy from the crowd.» O'Sullivan has urged the game's organisers to use the Hong Kong success story to improve the standard of venues on the UK-based circuit. The Essex icon infamously slammed a leisure centre in Crawley for smelling of urine during the 2016 English Open. O’Sullivan reveals his journey to snooker greatness in new two-hour show on Eurosport and discovery+ Exclusive: ‘I've been the most successful player of all time’ – O’Sullivan on GOAT claim O’Sullivan exclusive: World champion on how he beat self-doubt to lift seventh title “Maybe they can look at this, see