Stephen Hendry challenges Ronnie O'Sullivan to return to title glory as he predicts snooker's new world No. 1 -'Does he still want it enough?'
Published 24/12/2025 at 14:05 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan ended 2025 without winning a trophy for the first time since 2015. The snooker GOAT lost 10-9 to Neil Robertson in the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters after struggling with cue issues in a 17-7 thumping by Zhao Xintong in the last four of the World Championship. Despite producing two sublime 147s in one match in Jeddah, it was not a vintage year for Rocket Ronnie on the table.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has to prove he has a greater desire for competition than home comforts after ending 2025 without winning a trophy for the first time in a decade, according to fellow seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry.
By his own standards, O'Sullivan had a fairly indifferent 12 months of competition after smashing his cue at the Championship League in January before sitting out the next three months.
Armed with a new cue, he returned for the World Championship in April, but struggled for consistency before losing 17-7 to Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals at the Crucible.
There was a sublime performance in the semi-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters in Jeddah when he became the first player to produce two 147 breaks in the same session of a 6-3 win over Chris Wakelin.
But he lost 10-9 to Neil Robertson in an epic final that saw him recover from 7-2 behind to lead 9-8 before the Australian steeled himself to claim the final two frames and the £500,000 first prize.
It was the closest O'Sullivan came to winning a major title, with a couple of quarter-final appearances at the Shanghai Masters and Xi'an Grand Prix fairly underwhelming returns by his own standards.
"He's changing cues a lot," said Hendry on the World Snooker Tour podcast. "He's another one who has been doing a bit of chopping and changing.
"Again, it's similar to Luca [Brecel, the 2023 world champion]. How much does he want it?
"You know? Maybe he's thinking, he's done everything, he's got a great life and has moved to Dubai.
"He's obviously got plenty of money. So does he want it enough? That's the thing."
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Hendry believes the schedule for the Masters, January 11-18, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, suggests O'Sullivan will chase a record-extending ninth title at the invitational tournament in London.
The contest between Robertson and O'Sullivan is due to take place on the evening of Wednesday, January 14, the final match of the first round.
"Well he is playing," said Hendry on his YouTube channel. "He requested to play late, I think, so he’s playing Neil on Wednesday night.
"So yeah, Ronnie is playing in the Masters. If he doesn’t play the tournament is lacking, isn’t it?"
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Hendry feels new UK champion Mark Selby will reclaim the sport's top ranking for the first time since 2022.
Selby ended his year with final victories over world No. 1 Judd Trump at the Champion of Champions (10-5) and UK Championship (10-8).
"I think Selby will get back to world number one," commented the Scotsman.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the 2026 Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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