Ronnie O'Sullivan has been quietly preparing for life after snooker, it turns out.
Pool legend Chris Melling has revealed that the snooker great got in touch with him around four to five months ago, keen to arrange a practice session together.
"Ronnie O'Sullivan actually texted me quite a while ago," Melling said during the UK Open Pool Championship this week.
"Probably about four or five months ago, asking me to have a game with him, and play the Chinese pool and the American pool."
Ronnie O'Sullivan remains a force of nature at the age of 50 | PAThe Rocket's interest in both formats suggests he's serious about expanding his cue sports horizons.
Melling, who holds the unique distinction of being the first player to compete professionally across snooker, eight-ball and nine-ball pool simultaneously, knows exactly what challenges await any snooker star making the switch.
"He obviously knows that there's more to it than just potting balls," Melling explained.
"It's the jump shots, it's the break, it's the kick shots, it's the tactical side."
The 47-year-old reckons snooker players can match anyone when it comes to sinking balls, but the specialist techniques take time to master.
"The other parts of the game they're not going to be as good, just because of lack of experience," he added.
Ronnie O'Sullivan could be about to switch sports from snooker to pool
| PA"The more that they play, obviously, I think they're going to become really dangerous."
O'Sullivan has made no secret of his plans for when he eventually hangs up his snooker cue.
The seven-time world champion has his sights firmly set on conquering Chinese eight-ball, a format that's absolutely massive across Asia.
"Chinese eight-ball is very, very popular now in China," O'Sullivan said last year.
"Many players play in big tournaments in China, and for someone like me, when I finish playing snooker, then I will play Chinese eight-ball."
His ambitions don't stop at simply competing, either.
"When I retire from snooker, I want to become world champion in Chinese eight-ball," he declared.
The game follows English pool rules but uses a table similar to snooker, demanding greater precision with every shot.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Chris Melling have discussed a possible practice session between the two
| GETTYUnfortunately, the planned practice session between the two never actually took place.
Melling explained that O'Sullivan's packed schedule got in the way, with the snooker star travelling between Dubai and Hong Kong whilst keeping up with his tournament commitments.
"I haven't, no, because he's been over in Dubai and then he was in Hong Kong, and then obviously playing a lot of snooker," Melling said.
Still, the pool champion remains hopeful they'll eventually get together on the table.
"I'm hoping to play him because he's one of my heroes," he admitted.
"He's the greatest player that's ever played snooker."