Ronnie O'Sullivan drops biggest hint yet over when he'll retire from snooker as deadline set

Ronnie O'Sullivan has set himself a deadline to win the World Championship and given his biggest hint yet over when he plans to retire from snooker.

'The Rocket', who turned 50 last year, is tied with Stephen Hendry for the most world title wins, with seven.

He won his most recent title in 2022 and reached the second round at the Crucible last year, losing 13-12 in an epic clash against John Higgins.

O'Sullivan played a part-time schedule during the 2025/26 season and looks set to do the same throughout the entirety of this season.

He skipped the Championship League event and is currently playing in the Shanghai Masters, where he comfortably defeated China's Liu Linhao 6-1 in his first round match.

'That's the end of my career' - O'Sullivan drops retirement update

Speaking after his victory, O'Sullivan told reporters that he can only win his eighth World Snooker Championship by the year 2028 - giving him two more attempts at claiming the famous prize once again.

"I've got two attempts at it," he told World Snooker Tour. "If I don't do it this season or the next season, then it'll definitely never happen.

"But I'm pleased with my career. I'm happy with how things have gone, and I just want to try and enjoy these next two years."

'The Rocket', who is currently ranked at world number 14 and qualifies automatically for most major tournaments as a top 16 entrant, says he won't be playing in qualifiers if his ranking drops much further.

"I'll reassess it in 2028 and, if things are really going well and I've surprised myself, then maybe you can extend it ... I'm definitely not going to be playing qualifiers, put it that way.

"I'm not going to play qualifiers. You won't be seeing me go down to Barnsley, trying to win qualifying matches and all that sort of stuff.

"I have to be realistic. If that happens, then obviously that's the end of my career. But hopefully, I can keep going for at least another two seasons."

While 2028 might result in the end of O'Sullivan's career on the World Snooker Tour, it won't be the last fans see of him on the green baize.

He played a key role in founding the Snooker 900 Tour, where matches are played across 15-minute frames and with 30-second shot clocks in operation.

Top WST stars have also played on the tour created by O'Sullivan's agent, Jason Francis, including Higgins and Neil Robertson.

And 'The Rocket' suggested to Pluto TV last month that he would continue playing Snooker 900 even after his time on the main tour is complete.

"I love the way that Jason has kept it as a kind of club atmosphere," he said. "Growing up as kids in the snooker clubs... I've always said they were probably the happiest days of my life, playing in that environment. The atmosphere, really intimate. It's exciting.

READ MORE: Ronnie O'Sullivan says he'd encourage his son to play Snooker 900 as he issues career update

"Someone like me, or John Higgins, we've always got an eye on life after the main tour. It kind of gives you that hope to keep playing against top-level players, and being able to adapt and complete and give back to the fans."