Ronnie O’Sullivan’s father has taken aim at Barry Hearn for treating his son ‘atrociously’ in a scathing rant on social media. The Rocket won his eighth Masters title last weekend but is already back in action at the World Grand Prix in Leicester, beating Pang Junxu on Tuesday to book his place in the round of 16.
O’Sullivan will soon head to Barnsley for a match against Alfie Burden in his bid to qualify for the finals of the World Open, set to be held in China later this year. His father, however, is not impressed with the situation and has made his feelings known with a brutal dig at Hearn, who he branded a ‘car boot salesman’ as part of a social media tirade.
Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “Arrived in Leicester. I managed to get a few hours kip I’m absolutely worn out and I’m not playing. And straight after this one my son has to travel to Barnsley round the back of a working man’s club to qualify for the tournament in China.
“I’ve lost all respect for baz hernia. Once you lose respect for someone, there’s no return. Treated my son atrociously. Mental health is a very important issue because Ronnie has been there. I hope that the WST support any snooker players after this gruelling regime they are being put through. On your head bazzer.”
O’Sullivan’s father went on to accuse Hearn of power tripping and suggested that he would not treat Matchroom’s boxers the same way, adding: “I hope the Chinese officials overrule that car boot salesman Barry earner and give Ronnie a wild card. Number one in the world rankings and has to travel to Barnsley with an audience of one man and a dog.
“Great way to treat any player in the top 32 let alone No 1. I honestly believe baz hernia gets a big buzz to have this power over the snooker players. Maybe because he can’t bully any of the boxers, maybe because they wouldn’t tolerate it.”
It comes after O’Sullivan was publicly blasted by Ali Carter, his opponent in the Masters final, in a continuation of the war of words between the two players. The pair have come to blows in the aftermath of their meeting at Alexandra Palace and Carter refused to back down on Tuesday by suggesting that his rival is ‘not well mentally’ in response to being branded a ‘f****** nightmare’.
“Ronnie’s entitled to his opinion of me,” said Carter before defeating Wu Yize at the World Grand Prix. “I just said what it is and how it was and I talk facts. Angry about what? No. Yeah, it makes no difference to me what he says.
“He says different things on different days, I don’t think he even knows what’s going to come out of his mouth at certain times. I actually feel a bit sorry for him. I don’t think he’s that well, mentally. We move forward and we go again this week.”
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