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Ronnie O'Sullivan calls snooker 'boring and unwatchable' and approves radical changes

Ronnie O'Sullivan wants to shake up snooker with a new shortened format.

Ronnie O'Sullivan believes snooker needs a new format to make it exciting (Image: Getty)

Ronnie O'Sullivan is spearheading the launch of a new form of snooker because he finds the current format "boring and unwatchable". The seven-time world champion was recently in China to promote Snooker 900, an experimental format that prioritises speed of play, to a brand new audience. In the shortened version of the classic sport, individual frames last no more than 15 minutes and players have no longer than 20 seconds to complete each shot.

Players are also given the ball in hand when their opponent fouls, while there are deadlock-blue deciders in final frames.

O'Sullivan is championing the new format because he is bored of watching classic snooker, with frames dragging on and players taking too long to think about their next move.

He believes the shortened version would force players to think on their feet, leading to more entertainment and a better standard of play.

Speaking to The Sun, O'Sullivan said: "Frames can drag on. Players look at this shot or that shot, take their time. When I’m looking at them, I’m thinking: 'Well I know what shot you’ve got to play there, just bloody play it'.

The Rocket was recently in China to spearheard the Snooker 900 format (Image: Getty)

"Every time I watch 900 or any form of shot-clock snooker, it just forces the player to get on with it and you see much better snooker.

"I get fed up seeing people just faffing about, know what I mean? It just annoys me. Listen, I think it’s more watchable. It creates a lot of excitement and drama. 'S***, what’s going to happen here?'

"Snooker’s a very boring sport. It’s a very skilful sport but it’s boring. The 900 and the shot clock brings out a bit of personality in the players.

"It makes it more upbeat, more entertaining, a lot more exciting. It’s like a rollercoaster. Much more watchable."

O'Sullivan was on hand for a demonstration match at the Goldlion-Liberwin Cup Kangxi Shengshi Snooker 900 Open, although he wasn't involved in the tournament itself.

He added: "I always think 15 minutes is enough to see who should win the frame. Don’t need to go on for 45 minutes.

"It’s just better for everybody, the players, the referees, the cameramen, the fans. Everybody just knows there’s a time when it’s going to end.

"So everyone can plan better. You get the best out of the people as well. A cameraman can think: 'Okay, I’ve just got two hours of camera work tonight'.

"If they think: 'Oh, I’m here until 1am', then they’re beaten before they start. 'F***, I’m going to be here all night, potentially'.

"Sport is changing, isn’t it? Not a lot of people have this sort of long attention span. Listen, I think it’s a brilliant format all round.

"Personally, if I’m going to try and play for another five, six years, this sort of format suits me."

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