O’Sullivan’s chances to play before the World Championship could be quite limited, with the only event he is currently qualified for being the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.
His old pal White reckons the Rocket is still very motivated to set a new record of eight World Championship titles, beating Stephen Hendry who he is currently level with.
He is due to face Si Jiahui there on 5 March and even if he does decide to play, he will need to have a good run in Hong Kong to make it into the Players Championship later in March as just the top 16 on the one-year list qualify for that event.
Jimmy White expects Ronnie O’Sullivan to get himself ready to play at the World Championship this season, after missing a string of events.
O’Sullivan, of course, took a year off playing competitively before returning to win the World Championship in 2013, so few would be ruling his chances out if he arrived in Sheffield with little or no match practice.
