Barry Hearn expects Ronnie O'Sullivan to stay in snooker for 'a few more years' amid confirmation that the World Championship is to remain at the Crucible Theatre.
O'Sullivan will be one of the top 16 seeds entered into the World Championship, which starts on April 18, as he looks to win his record-breaking eighth title.
On Tuesday, it was announced that the World Snooker Tour had reached a long-term agreement with Sheffield City Council to keep the illustrious tournament at the Crucible until at least 2045.
As part of the deal, there is an option to extend its stay to 2050, with major refurbishment plans being developed for the venue.
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There will be the potential to add up to 500 additional seats in an 'in the round' configuration, while improvements will be made to backstage, player and spectator facilities.
National and local government will provide £35 million of the £45 million cost required to undertake the refurbishments, which will commence after the 2028 tournament.
The World Championship will have to move away from the Crucible for one year only, however, as the beginning of the works will mean that an alternative venue must be sought in 2029.
SPORTbible spoke to Matchroom Sport president Hearn following the announcement, with the 77-year-old specifically reserving praise for World Snooker, Sheffield City Council and the UK government for getting the agreement across the line.
"The teams of World Snooker and the teams of Sheffield Council have been very proactive," Hearn said. "They've worked together as a team.
"And I have to commend the current government, for putting up enough money to make sure that the work that is necessary to make the Crucible the venue that we want and we know it can be, that moves us forward as a sport and moves them forward as a venue. Without that money we wouldn't be in Sheffield.
"People get criticised in office from time to time, quite rightly - mainly by me.
"I know without that help, and without Sheffield managing to broker that deal with public and private investment... that's given us the opportunity to add more seats to the Crucible. It gives me the opportunity to push the prize money going forward, so that everybody's a winner."
"You never win every argument," he continued. "There's always a few bumps in the road. But if you come out smiling, holding hands with partners that you like and appreciate, then the bonus is that we've got all the history of the Crucible, which, to ordinary punters like me, means so much, because that's where it all started."
Hearn adds that, as a 'UK sports fan', he would 'love' for the tournament to stay in the UK in 2029, adding: "But it's one year, and we'll look at it and say, you know, we're getting ready to go back to the Crucible.
"We can try where we like, or we can go wherever we want. We're not going to rush to make a decision for that yet, but we'll give it some thought. And I think, in six, seven months' time, we'll have a better understanding.
"The biggest thing is, we're where we want to be now. We're staying at our home. We built this house ourselves."
Barry Hearn on 'genius' Ronnie O'Sullivan
How many more times will O'Sullivan, the sport's record-equalling seven-time world champion who Hearn describes as 'without a doubt the best player who's ever walked the earth', appear at the Crucible?
The 50-year-old has operated on a part-time schedule this season and has largely stayed away from UK-based events.
He said last week that he had been uncertain over whether he would even play at the 2026 World Championship, but had a strong run to the final of the World Open in China and hit a record-breaking 153 break in the quarter-final against Ryan Day.
"I managed Ronnie twice, as a really young boy, and then in the subsequent years," Hearn recalls. "He's his own man. He's matured.
"I think he's happy with his life. And that's the most important thing I could ever wish for anybody. I think he loves snooker, I think he's trying everything he can do.
"He played very well last week [at the World Open]. Very well. He didn't quite win, but when you get a barrage of scoring like Thepchaiya [Un-Nooh, who beat him 10-7 in the final] did, that's something special.
"The sport needs Ronnie, and it doesn't need Ronnie. You know, the sport's got enough talent out there, and for technical talent, it doesn't necessarily need Ronnie, because there's a lot of really, really good players.
"But we need characters, we need dialogue. We need someone who keeps us guessing, doesn't let us get too comfortable. It can be a pain sometimes as well, but that's all part and parcel of the personality of top sportsmen.
"And in that respect, we're going to miss Ronnie a lot when he's gone. I think there'll be a few more years left. This guy's a genius.
"He's got his own life to lead. So I think what we do with Ronnie now is just say, 'You've earned the right. Make every call. Call it what suits you best, son. You've paid your dues. And, by the way, we'd love to have you around all the time. We'd appreciate that's not going to happen, but we'll see you when you're ready'.
"I think he's earned that right."
Hearn doesn't want to say whether, in 2026, O'Sullivan can beat Stephen Hendry's Crucible record of seven titles - something he's learned over many years of experience.
"I've got bored of calling Ronnie's games correctly, because I never do," he says.
"Everything I expect Ronnie to do, he generally does the opposite. So if I say to him, no, he's definitely not going to win this year, that's probably his best bet to win it."
As he always does, 'The Rocket' will have a good chance of lifting the iconic trophy come April 18.
Topics: Spotlight, Ronnie OSullivan, Snooker, World Snooker Championship
Ryan Smart