RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has hinted he could miss next year's World Snooker Championship.
The Rocket, 47, was eliminated at the Crucible last week after losing to Luca Brecel 13-10 in the quarter-finals.
O'Sullivan, the defending champion and pre-tournament favourite, was seeking a record-breaking eighth title in the modern era.
But, despite leading 10-6, Belgian Brecel came roaring back to win seven successive frames, stunning the seven-time winner.
When asked on Eurosport what O'Sullivan now has planned before the start of the new season, he said: "I’ll try and get my 5k time down to near 18 minutes to get myself fit.
"[I will] spend some time at home with the dogs, Layla, family, kids – all that sort of stuff. A bit of work in between.
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"Then back playing snooker around August time."
He was then quizzed on whether he will be back in Sheffield for another crack at an eighth crown in 2024.
To which he replied: "I’ve got to have a better year than I have this last year.
"Otherwise you won’t be seeing me!"
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O'Sullivan's seven world titles have come across a 21-year career – in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.
And despite his quarter-final exit at this year's edition, he remains the No1 ranked player in the world.
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan's conqueror Brecel has made it to the final where he is taking on four-time winner Mark Selby.
Follow updates of Selby vs Brecel via SunSport's live blog
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