Ronnie O'Sullivan won the inaugural John Virgo Trophy on Sunday, beating John Higgins in the final. The tournament, held at Goffs in County Kildare, Ireland, featured a four-man field including O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, and Mark Williams. O'Sullivan earned €20,000 (£17.4k) for the victory. John Virgo's daughter Brook-Leah and son Gary attended to present the trophy. John Virgo passed away in February 2024 and was a close friend of O'Sullivan, described by the player as like a second dad to him. According to Daily Express - Sport, Ronnie O'Sullivan described the weekend as all about keeping Virgo's name going and hoped his children enjoyed it.
The John Virgo Trophy is a Snooker 900 event, a fast-paced format with 15-minute frames, shot clocks, a spotted cue ball, and amended rules like ball-in-hand for fouls, according to major media reports. This innovative tournament structure is designed to provide a more dynamic viewing experience compared to traditional snooker events. Snooker 900 is increasingly attracting top professionals and is being promoted as a fast, modern way to attract a younger audience, sources indicate.
I started playing alright a couple of weeks ago. For three years I have been very poor, pretty much every day. So I didn’t think I’d ever have another day where I’d feel good. But the last month I’ve been feeling alright. So it was nice to feel comfortable at the table.
O'Sullivan will be based in Dublin for the World Snooker Championship due to tax reasons after moving to Dubai, multiple reports confirm. He plans to continue playing snooker for at least a few more years, aiming to win one more World Championship, according to major media. This strategic relocation highlights the financial considerations that elite athletes often navigate in their careers.
An upcoming Creator Clash event for Snooker 900 will feature influencers Jaack Mate, Pieface, Aaron Hunt, and Sara Guzo partnered with snooker legends, sources report. This event aims to further boost the format's popularity by blending traditional snooker with contemporary digital culture.
The crowd here was amazing. Any venue we play in Ireland, but especially here at Goffs, the atmosphere is electric. Amazing. I mean, I live here quite a lot now. I spend three months a year here. I’ve always loved coming to Ireland. It has always had a special place in my heart. But having lived here the last year or so, it’s been great. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
According to Daily Mirror - Main, Ronnie O'Sullivan considers Stephen Hendry the greatest player he has ever seen. This acknowledgment from one of snooker's modern greats underscores Hendry's enduring legacy in the sport.
It wears you down after a while. It’s the jet lag more than anything. You never really recover. I kept a diary and for about 90 days a year I was in, like, a zombie state. I put a lot of importance on feeling good, your wellbeing and being at your optimum level. It went against all of my principles and values. I knew I could never play my best if I wasn’t mentally and physically in tune. Although I do all right, I knew I wasn’t playing my best because it just wasn’t possible. I was so tired, I was smashed; I just wanted to go to sleep a lot of the time. As a player you want to feel ready to play. It’s really hard if you’re going back and forth, especially if you’re doing well in tournaments. You have to try and manage it as well as you possibly can.
Stephen is the greatest player I've ever seen. He doesn’t play much these days, so for him to get his cue out of his case is a privilege. His middle pocket potting is still unbelievable. It took me back years ago. There was no weakness. His middle pocket potting is still unbelievable. To be on the same table as him is a privilege.
You can't get higher praise from a better player. [But] Ronnie is obviously the GOAT. He's taken the game to a level I thought we might never see. He's an artist with the cue ball, that's the beauty of snooker. Nobody has done it better than Ronnie.
I'd like to win one more [World Championship]. I will probably have three or four genuine attempts at it. I think that is going to be my main goal for the rest of my career, to try and win one more. If I can that would be great, but still just try and enjoy the game, enjoy the crowds and enjoy the tournaments.
I haven’t been feeling good for the last three years but over the last two months I have been feeling good. The venues in Ireland are brilliant but Goffs in particular, the atmosphere is electric. John [Virgo] was like a second dad to me and this weekend is all about keeping his name going. His son and daughter are here watching, I hope they have enjoyed it.
I am gutted I could not put on a show tonight against Ronnie for this crowd. Listen, I thought Ronnie was hitting the ball great tonight and there was nothing I could do.