Ronnie O’Sullivan of The Masters Snooker 2024 criticizes Alexandra Palace’s state

As he made it to the Masters semi-final, Ronnie O’Sullivan expressed his displeasure with Alexandra Palace, calling the famous London location “disgusting” and “dirty”.

In a match rife with mistakes, the seven-time Masters winner defeated Barry Hawkins 6-3 to book his place in the tournament’s last four. On Friday night, O’Sullivan is expected to face Shaun Murphy in the semi-final.

After defeating Hawkins, O’Sullivan took to social media to sharply criticize Ally Pally, which has also hosted the PDC World Darts Championship for the last month.

“I just don’t like this place to be honest with you, I just find it disgusting,” O’Sullivan stated. “It’s cold, everything is filthy, and I’m freezing.” I’m gonna sit here in my jacket.

“Car parks are wherever you go, and bins are everywhere you look. I don’t know if you’ve seen over there [media catering area] there’s leftover food and whatnot and it makes me feel ill to be honest with you.

I’m a little bit neat freak. To be honest, I can’t wait to leave this place since it gives me the creeps. I apologize, but that’s how I truly feel.”

Ally Pally, a Grade II listed structure, has hosted the Masters every year since 2012, with the exception of 2021, when it was postponed due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The World Snooker Tour responded to O’Sullivan’s comments by saying: “We collaborate with Alexandra Palace to offer players the greatest circumstances both on and off the table.

“Every other participant has expressed satisfaction with the location in unison. Visitors adore visiting here. Record ticket sales and the fact that every seat for general admission sold out before this year’s tournament serve as evidence of this.”

“We love hosting the Masters and welcoming all the players and fans to the Palace,” an Alexandra Palace official continued. We put in a lot of effort to create the arena and ambience that this magnificent event deserves.

It’s regrettable if Ronnie feels differently, as we’ve been proud of the venue’s overwhelmingly good comments in recent years. We’re hoping that we can persuade him otherwise and that he has fun playing this event through.”

O’Sullivan attacked the Ally Pally crowd earlier this week after defeating Ding Junhui in the first round.”I embrace the pressure,” O’Sullivan declared. “I accept everything that goes along with winning.

I consider it an honor. It’s essential to your victory. Over the years, I have had to reinvent myself, and that is what I have done. Although I truly don’t enjoy the rowdiness of the Ally Pally crowd, you have to learn to live with it. It’s included in it.”