Ronnie O'Sullivan has admitted he could 'walk away' from snooker as he prepares for his World Championship clash with Ryan Day on Sunday.
The Rocket cruised into the second round with a routine victory over Jackson Page earlier in the week.
O'Sullivan is one of the best cueists of all time, having scaled huge heights over the course of his glittering career.
However, he's not always enjoyed his time in the sport and previously clashed with World Snooker Tour chiefs due to a row on player contracts.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he could 'walk away' from snooker ahead of his World Championship clash with Ryan Day
GETTY
There have been rumours that snooker could soon be set for a breakway league, in what would be a huge blow for the WST.
And O'Sullivan, speaking prior to his clash with Day, has admitted he could be tempted to 'walk away' if he feels 'undervalued'.
"Every player has the right to do what they want to do," he said.
"Each sportsman is a business, whether you like it or not and it's just like any other job - if you get a better offer, you're going to go.
"What is a better offer? For some people it might be a reduced schedule, it might be more money.
"Everyone has a different idea of what is right for them and everyone has the right to make that decision for themselves.
"I'll go wherever I'm looked after and wherever I feel like I'm valued.
"For me, I just want to play snooker, I want to have fun, I want to be looked after and pampered.
"Anyone who wants to pamper me and look after me, I'm your man."
When quizzed further, he added: "The bottom line is, you've got to be prepared to walk away.
"If I didn't get what I want, am I prepared to walk away from the sport? The answer is yes.
"I'm happy with my life. I don't need the financial rewards that snooker has offered me.
"I'm playing because I want to play but I have a value. I'm away from home and my family need looking after.
"A lot of it is done for them really, so I have to value my time and that's what it's all about."
O'Sullivan will be the strong favourite to reign supreme when he returns to the Crucible on Sunday.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
- Police reviewing footage after video emerges of man biting a young boy's ear at World Snooker Championship
- Liverpool make history with Arne Slot appointment with deal 'verbally agreed' for Jurgen Klopp replacement
- Tyson Fury sends disappointed message to fans and shows off punching speed ahead of Oleksandr Usyk battle
Ronnie O'Sullivan is hoping to win the World Snooker Championship for the eighth time in his career
GETTY
And Stephen Hendry has admitted the World Snooker Championship could be a 'procession' due to the brilliance of the 48-year-old.
"He always beats who he’s supposed to beat when he’s supposed to beat them, better than anyone that’s ever played the game," Hendry told the BBC.
"If you were there today with Ronnie 8-1 up, you could book lunch for 2 o’clock because you know he’s going to beat Jackson by 2 o’clock. It’s incredible.
"He gets to the winning line with not one bit of hesitation.
"It’s something you can’t teach, you either have that or you don’t, just to be able to dominate your opponents.
Ronnie O'Sullivan will take on Ryan Day at the Crucible on Sunday
GETTY
"I tend to think this could be a procession, this World Championship, I really do.
"I think he looks like he’s on it, the draw’s opening up, a lot of players gone.
"Two players who beat him this year – Mark Williams, Zhang Anda – both out already. Judd [Trump] possibly in the semi-final who hasn’t beaten him since 2020. This could be a procession."