Hearn: Snooker would not miss Ronnie

Barry Hearn claims snooker would not miss Ronnie O'Sullivan if he announced a snap retirement and stuck to his word.

The five-time world champion has repeatedly threatened to quit the sport throughout his long career, but has always had a change of heart.

Asked what impact it would have if O'Sullivan walked out, Hearn said: "Nothing at all, nothing whatsoever.

"It's happened in so many other sports in the past. People move on and people rise to the occasion - 'the king is dead, long live the king'.

"Providing the event is attractive and shown well on TV and you get full crowds and a good standard, it moves on."

"I've got some great ambassadors I know I can rely on," said Hearn.

"It's not for me to say if they are as damagingly exciting as Mr O'Sullivan.

"But I have a feeling with Ronnie that he'll be around a lot longer than we all think, because Ronnie will always do what we least expect."

It was confirmed on Wednesday that O'Sullivan will face no punishment over a curious incident involving his chalk during his quarter-final against Stuart Bingham.

O'Sullivan - who earlier in the tournament played some of a frame in his socks and was then warned about his behaviour following a hand gesture in the second-round match against Matthew Stevens - caused a stir when he placed the small cube of chalk on the baize while lining up a shot, a breach of competition rules.

Hearn said: "To the average Joe Public that's watching, they'll say, 'That's Ronnie isn't it, we're lucky he's playing with his trousers on'."