Ronnie O'Sullivan has called on tournaments "to get the cheque book out" if they want him to play.
The Rocket was knocked out of the World Snooker Championship yesterday by John Higgins 13-12 in a deciding frame against the Scotsman.
The Rocket's last trophy came at the World Grand Prix in January 2024, with his hopes of an eighth world title snatched away.
Speaking at the Crucible, O'Sullivan admitted he is not worried about Saudi Arabia moving back from their interest in the sport, sharing that if any tournament wants him to play, they have to pay.
Ronnie O'Sullivan told tournaments if they want him to play 'to get the cheque book out'
| PAHe said: "Any tournament I go to, they all know they have to get the cheque book out, so wherever I go that's standard.
"If that stops then I stop. Wherever it is, Saudi, Qatar, China, here, whatever it is, I always make sure I've got some sort of fee coming because otherwise people know that I won't turn up.
"I have other options so I'm not really worried. Hopefully, Saudi still wants to do some stuff, but we'll have to wait and see, then I'll make my decisions based on whatever happens there."
The Rocket explained that he is in a different position than his counterparts, who are more committed to playing in contests.
O'Sullivan was knocked out yesterday by John Higgins
|GETTY
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He said: "It depends, if my sponsors are on board, then I'll play, but I'm not two feet in like pretty much most of the guys.
"I'm just grateful to be playing, and enjoying my playing, and that's it. And if I don't enjoy it, I'll take time out. We'll see. It's too hard to start speculating about next year.
"I'm just enjoying myself, I'm having good fun, I'm just enjoying life, whatever I'm doing, so win, lose, draw, there's always a safety net below.
"I'm not two feet in. I try my nuts off when I'm out there, but I also appreciate that I'm not a slave to the game."
O'Sullivan said: 'I'm just grateful to be playing, and enjoying my playing and that's it'
| GETTYTop players have expressed frustration at the cancellation of the Saudi event, the second most lucrative on the calendar.
The competition was abruptly ended after what was announced as a decade-long partnership.
The tournament, which carried the richest prize fund outside Britain at £2.3million with £500,000 going to the champion, had been dubbed the sport's unofficial "fourth major" when it launched.
A statement from the World Snooker Tour said: "Following constructive discussions between The Saudi Billiard and Snooker Federation and Matchroom following the conclusion of the 2025 editions, it has been mutually agreed not to proceed with future editions of the World Pool Championship and the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters."
John Hawkins criticised the way the players found out the news of Saudi Arabia pulling its funding
| PAJohn Hawkins criticised the way the players found out the news, saying: "What a disappointment. Without sounding rude, something's gone wrong for us to lose that tournament.
"What's happened to the 10-year contract? It's just been blown out of the water.
"We don't get no explanation, nothing, which is very, very annoying. We just get some stupid email saying it's been stopped. No explanation, nothing. Very disappointing, it's a massive tournament to lose. It'd be interesting to see the reason behind it."
The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters featured only two tournaments, with Judd Trump claiming the first victory in 2024.
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