Barry Hearn believes Ronnie O'Sullivan will one day thank him despite the pair having several public spats.
O'Sullivan remains snooker's biggest draw and is currently the world No.1 but has frequently been outspoken throughout his career, including aiming negative criticism at Hearn and the state of the sport.
The Rocket has won a joint-record seven world titles, the last of which came in 2022. O'Sullivan's talent at the tables has long been recognised by Hearn, who is now a lifetime president of parent organisation Matchroom, but he's had to hit back at some of the player's claims over the years.
Hearn, 74, has also had to remind O'Sullivan of the ambassadorial responsibilities he has, having made more than £13m in prize money from the sport. Whilst the duo haven't always seen eye-to-eye, Hearn is hopeful that one day O'Sullivan will come to appreciate the opportunities he's been afforded - just as former boxing world champion Chris Eubank did.
He said: “It is so satisfying when a player says thank you. Now I am not expecting Ronnie to join that list now…but when he gets older, he will. Because he will look back and be reflective and think, ‘I have had a great life, I was a great player. Why did I have a great life? Because I had opportunity’.
“And that is the one thing about sport that you must never stop delivering for kids to inspire anybody about sport. Sometimes it takes time to settle down and find out actually who you are. And I think Ronnie has found out who he is.
“It’s a bit like Steve Davis now. Steve with his music, his Blur concert this summer, Glastonbury..I have never seen someone so happy. He has found where he wants to be. And while Ronnie is only one player, he is the most important player. Whilst his decisions might not be in my interest, I actually applaud him for living the life he wants to live.
“As you get older, you get a bit reflective. There is chasing money, profits and success, but I am just as happy going fishing on my own with a can of worms. Ronnie is never going to be ‘Mr Normal’, because geniuses aren’t normal. We watch his career and thank him for the value he adds.
“And we hope he appreciates what snooker has done for him as well. That may come later rather than earlier. Chris Eubank phoned me up the other day. Out of the blue, from somewhere in the world. It sort of went ‘Bazza!’ ‘Hello Chris’. ‘How did you know it was me?’ ‘I just listen to the voice and guess’.
“ ‘Very smart. I have phoned you up to say thank you’. ‘Oh, that is very kind. What are you thanking me for?’ I hadn’t spoken with him for some time. ‘I realise now that you made me. I thought I made myself. But analysing the past I have come to the conclusion that you made me. I would like to say thank you very much. I said 'that is very kind of you’. He said ‘Good day’. And he put the phone down.”
