I watched Ronnie's semi-final disaster with my jaw on the floor. The Rocket – arguably the greatest to ever hold a cue – absolutely demolished 17-7 by Zhao Xintong with a SESSION TO SPARE. God. Never thought I'd see the day.

But that wasn't even the bombshell. As his Crucible campaign crashed and burned, O'Sullivan casually dropped that he's leaving the UK altogether. Essex home already listed online (I checked – it's gorgeous), and now he's Gulf-bound at nearly 50 years old.

What's Really Going On With The Rocket?

Listen. Something feels off here. O'Sullivan has only played NINE matches this entire year. Nine! He's pulled out of five events citing "medical grounds" which has everyone in the snooker world whispering. I've heard from someone close to the tour that he's been struggling behind the scenes more than most realize.

The UAE seems to be where he'll land – Dubai or Abu Dhabi most likely. Makes sense with his Saudi academy connections. My brother lived in Dubai back in 2018 and spent about $4K a month on rent alone, but for someone with Ronnie's bank account, that's pocket change.

The Cue Incident

Remember when he snapped his cue in January? Absolute madness. That moment of rage might've cost him this championship run. The replacement cue he brought to the Crucible had multiple tip changes and a different ferrule (switched from titanium to brass). Any serious player knows that's like trying to paint a masterpiece with someone else's brushes.

At least he won't be throwing this one away.

"I won't throw it. The merchandise people want it. So, it'll be up for sale," he told reporters with that trademark Ronnie deadpan. I'd bet teh price tag will be astronomical – collectors are already circling like sharks.

Thirty-One Years Since Such a Crushing Defeat

You have to go back 31 years to find O'Sullivan exiting the World Championship in such embarrassing fashion. I was still in primary school then! The way Zhao dismantled him felt like watching a passing of the torch... or maybe just watching a legend who's mentally already packed his bags.

So... Is This Really Goodbye?

O'Sullivan being O'Sullivan, he left the door cracked open: "I might be back in six months, who knows!" Classic Ronnie, unpredictable as ever. I remember thinking the same thing when he took that sabbatical back in 2012 and then returned to dominate. Poor Stephen Hendry probably thought he'd keep his seven-title record safe then too.

Speaking of which, Ronnie claims he's not bothered about grabbing that historic eighth title that would put him alone at the top. "I've never fallen into that thing of: 'Oh, I want to win an eighth,'" he insisted.

Yeah right. And I'm the Queen of England.

What This Means for Snooker's Future

I've been covering snooker for 15 years now, adn the sport without Ronnie feels like a ghost at a family reunion – technically present but missing its soul. The TV ratings will tell the story – broadcasters are probably in panic mode already.

O'Sullivan originally planned to play for at least two more years. Now? Who knows. He admitted his timeline would shrink if he continued performing as poorly as he did against Zhao.

The changes in his personal life (which he's kept remarkably quiet about) seem to be driving this move more than his snooker career. When he said "There's a lot more important things in life to worry about than a game of snooker," I actually believe him.

For once.