O’Sullivan’s exhaustion scare

RONNIE O’Sullivan has revealed he collapsed due to exhaustion in the early stages of the season.

The 36-year-old, who has been a strong critic of the heavy schedule on the snooker tour, claims that the demands led directly to the scare he suffered in November, as he prepared to compete in another tournament.

Speaking at the Crucible this week, O’Sullivan said that it was pushing himself so hard which caused the collapse. He said: “I have been to events I wouldn’t have for fear of getting fined. In November I had to get to a PTC [Players Tour Championship] event in Sheffield when I knew I had to go but felt terrible after a run of travelling and late nights. I was on a treadmill, I didn’t feel right. I went, and collapsed in a hotel room on the Wednesday. I was so ill I had to get home.

“I probably shouldn’t have driven, and got the train, but I wanted to get home. I was close to falling asleep at the wheel. I could have hurt or even killed myself and others, it was a big mistake.”