Snooker bosses have received a warning from Ronnie O’Sullivan due too.

Although Ronnie O’Sullivan plans to play snooker for a while longer, he cautions the authorities that if he can’t play the majority of his career in China, he will have “no choice” but to retire.

For the first time since the pandemic removed Asian tournaments off the schedule, the sport is back in China this season, and the Far Eastern love for snooker is evident.

The Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) has extended its schedule of demonstrations and tournaments for players to participate in, including three ranking events plus the non-ranking Shanghai Masters.

The quintet of Mark Selby, John Higgins, Luca Brecel, Ali Carter, and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh became known as “The Macau Five” because they were threatened with punishment if they performed an exhibition during the Northern Ireland Open in Macau, even though O’Sullivan was not involved in the particular situation.

After all, the exhibition was rescheduled, but by then the players had withdrawn from the Belfast tournament, so they were unable to participate in any events that week.

O’Sullivan, who withdrew from the Champion of Champions last week due to a demanding schedule that had him competing in Tianjin, China, just days before, believes he is likely to give up the game entirely if he is unable to participate when he wants to in China.

Right now, I have no choice. I won’t play again if I can’t go out and do what I have to do, which is play a lot in China. O’Sullivan disclosed to the BBC. We find ourselves sort of at a fork in the path.

“It’s not enough here in the UK for me to make the effort that I do.” I play for big audiences, wonderful venues, and great prize money whenever I travel to China. And I adore it.

“I probably won’t play if that gets to the point where I can’t do that.” I still want to play snooker, so I’ll probably go play Chinese 8 ball. I still desire to hold a cue.

Snooker has benefited greatly from the restoration of the Chinese tournaments in terms of player earnings, prize money, and worldwide popularity.

However, players are already griping about their hectic schedule, which involves frequent flights from the UK to China, and some feel constrained by the terms of their contracts, which limit the number of exhibition dates they may play.

The World Championship, Masters, and UK Championship are still the three major events held in the United Kingdom, although the flashier, higher-profile Chinese competitions may also cast a negative light on some of the more humble UK tournaments.

“I don’t get appreciated on the snooker circuit,” the Rocket claims, adding that he and the other elite players are not given enough attention in the present environment. I think none of the elite players do.

If I could play snooker for the next five, six, seven, or eight years, that would be wonderful. On the other hand, I refuse to play tournament after tournament like the other 130 guys if I’m compelled to go in a circumstance where that’s not feasible.

O’Sullivan’s goal is still to go on.

When asked how long he still had left in the sport at the Tuesday premiere of his documentary The Edge of Everything, he said, “I’ve got another five years.” I think five would be plenty, but I could do ten if I wanted to.