Ronnie O'Sullivan has made clear that his continued presence on the professional circuit depends entirely on whether it complements his lifestyle outside the sport.
The Rocket delivered a commanding performance in his opening match at the Crucible, dispatching He Guoqiang 10-2 in emphatic fashion.
He has struggled in recent years, however, and has now changed his mindset as a result.
"I play snooker for a hobby, it has to fit into my life, and feel very comfortable for me," the seven-time world champion told TNT Sports.
The 50-year-old dismissed any notion of competing purely for ranking points, stating he has no intention of treating the game as his livelihood.
"I couldn't do the hard slog that most of the players seem to put themselves through on tour, it has to be worth it for me," O'Sullivan explained.
He acknowledged that poor results no longer concern him, viewing his participation through a pragmatic lens where enjoyment must outweigh effort.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has made clear that his continued presence on the professional circuit depends entirely on whether it complements his lifestyle outside the sport
|PA
This year marks O'Sullivan's 34th consecutive World Championship appearance, a remarkable run that has continued despite his significantly reduced tournament schedule in recent seasons.
His victory came with an unusual twist, as O'Sullivan switched between different cues across the sessions due to problems with his tip.
When asked directly about retirement, the snooker legend offered no evasion.
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Five quirky facts about snooker | PA"Yeah, obviously," he responded, confirming that his career will eventually come to an end.
His future, he explained, hinges on whether circumstances away from the table remain favourable.
Should the appeal of snooker diminish, O'Sullivan has identified Chinese 8-Ball as a potential new challenge.
"If it feels like the juice ain't worth the squeeze, then I probably go into China eight and just see what I can do with it, if I can get good at it. It'd be a bit of a buzz," he said.
Beyond cue sports altogether, the Rocket expressed a desire to pursue collaborative ventures in the business world.
"I'd like to see myself involved in a team of some sort," O'Sullivan revealed.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is targeting another World Snooker Championship title | PA"I don't want to be doing something on my own in the second phase of my career, I find it's really hard being on your own."
O'Sullivan now faces a formidable second-round encounter against fellow snooker great John Higgins, with their three-day contest beginning on Saturday.
Having admitted to experiencing a "different type of nerves" during his opening fixture, the seven-time champion said he intends to savour the occasion against his long-standing rival.
"I'm a toe-to-toe player, I'm not going to hide. I'm not going to sit on the fence, I'll go out and try to impose myself," O'Sullivan declared.
He acknowledged that Higgins presents a unique challenge, requiring sustained excellence to find any weakness.
"John is one of those opponents that I really have to be at it for a long time to eventually get a chink in the armour," he added.