Ronnie O'Sullivan in retirement U-turn as snooker icon reveals how long he plans to keep playing

Veteran snooker ace Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed that he wants to keep playing for another decade.

The 49-year-old seven-time world champion had previously said his time at snooker's top table was 'finished' but now has his hunger back, and says he's enjoying his snooker as much as he did as a teenager just starting out - as he targets glory in Saudi Arabia this week. The Rocket, who will face old foe John Higgins at The Masters in January, says that he rediscovered his boyhood enjoyment of the game after joining forces with Mark Williams’ coach Lee Walker.

O’Sullivan’s trophy-laden CV boasts the biggest records in the sport with most Triple Crown majors (23), most ranking titles (41), most century breaks (approaching 1,300) and most maximum 147s (15). The world number four is among the game’s biggest stars who are chasing the $1million bonus for the first ever Golden Ball 167 break at this week’s Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.

And O'Sullivan, who kicks off his title defence on December 19, insisted: “I wouldn’t say it’s the end, I definitely wouldn’t say it’s the end. I’m definitely going to keep playing. The last time I enjoyed playing snooker like I have done the last couple of months was when I was 14, I’ll be honest with you.

"The start of this season and the whole of last season I would say it’s probably about a four out of ten, really bad. Probably as bad as it’s ever been. But I played what I felt wasn’t great and won five tournaments last season. Then I start to play great and can’t win a match. Maybe I’m better off playing terrible if I want to get results.

“I remember going back to when I worked with Steve Peters, I didn’t really do much for two years, I was ready to retire, 2009-10, didn’t win the