LONDON: Great snooker player Ronnie O’Sullivan advanced to the Masters semifinals on Thursday, but he left London’s Alexandra Palace feeling unwell, calling the place unclean and unpleasant.
Despite his impressive record of seven Masters victories, 48-year-old O’Sullivan was dissatisfied with the state of the venue, which was constructed in 1865 and has been the tournament’s host since 2012.
“This is not my favorite spot. I believe it’s dirty. Everything is dirty. It’s chilly. It’s really chilly. After defeating Barry Hawkins 6-3 in the quarterfinals on Thursday, the world number one, often known as “The Rocket,” declared, “I have to wear my coat everywhere.”
I’m a little bit of a neat freak, so entering this place makes my hair stand on end.
“You drive by parking lots. Dumpsters are present. To be honest, that bothers me.”
Since 2008, Alexandra Palace has also hosted the World Darts Championship; earlier this month, 16-year-old Luke Littler’s progress to the final was made particularly memorable by the venue.
“In response to O’Sullivan’s remarks, we collaborate with Alexandra Palace to offer the best conditions for players both on and off the table,” the World Snooker Tour (WST) told local media.
“Every other player has expressed satisfaction with the location in unison. The fans adore visiting this location. Record ticket sales and the fact that all regular entry tickets were sold out prior to this year’s event serve as proof of this.”
After Shaun Murphy defeated Jack Lisowski 6-3, O’Sullivan will play the 41-year-old in the semi-final on Saturday.
