Ronnie O’Sullivan exclusive: Why star isn’t bigger than snooker ahead of record World Championship title bid

Only a few yards from the stage door of the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, gateway to a timeless sporting tardis where a potting potpourri of bow-tied giants have roamed since 1977, something stirs. And something whirrs. The tills at a sporting memorabilia shop bearing Ronnie O’Sullivan’s name – aptly titled the Ronnie O’Sullivan snooker shop – move faster at this time of the year than the great man himself.

Which is saying something. Ad It will be interesting to see what makes more over the next few weeks on the sport’s grandest stage: Ronnie or his shop? World ChampionshipExclusive: ‘I said I'll never worry about snooker ever again’ — Carter on impact of illness2 HOURS AGO O’Sullivan snagged £500,000 in these parts after claiming his seventh world title a year ago from an overall haul of over £3m since snooker’s man of steel first washed up in the Steel City as a much-hyped wunderkind in 1993, the same year he would become the youngest UK champion at 17. Which equates to £100,000 per trip (without being adjusted for inflation or elation) from his 30-year body of work at the Crucible.

Nice work if you can get it. Not that money is his main motivation. With over 75 major trophies and counting picked up worldwide and over £12.5 million pocketed in prize money alone, he was made for life beyond Essex a long time ago.

It must be said, O’Sullivan is in fine form before his latest busman’s holiday in South Yorkshire where he combines his passion for running with the run of the ball. Ronnie and his pop-up shop, complete with a full-size table, World Championship trophy and a strong waft of Rocket-fuelled nostalgia, have been in full flow over the past two years. It felt like the engraver was still etching his name on the