Ronnie O'Sullivan sought World Championship pull-out

WORLD SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Date: Saturday 16 April - Monday 2 May
Coverage: Live television coverage on BBC One, BBC Two, BBC One HD, the Red Button and BBC Sport website with updates and reports on BBC Radio 5 live

Rocket Power - O'Sullivan at The Crucible

Ronnie O'Sullivan attempted to pull out of the forthcoming World Championship last week only to change his mind a day later, World Snooker has confirmed.

The former world number one, currently ranked 10th in the world, starts his campaign versus Dominic Dale on Monday.

However, a spokesman for governing body World Snooker told the BBC: "Ronnie O'Sullivan rang us last Thursday saying that he wanted to pull out.

"He then called on Friday to say he had changed his mind"

O'Sullivan has not won an official snooker match since clinching the Premier League title last November and he has spoken publicly of losing enthusiasm for the game.

Following a first-round defeat by Ryan Day in the China Open last month, he hinted at quitting the sport altogether, saying: "I'm not going to say I'm retiring but you never know, it's not looking good."

This year alone he has withdrawn from two major ranking events, the Shanghai Masters and the German Masters, and 10 of the 12 minor ones that comprise the new Players Tour Championship.

But it appears he will now compete at the Crucible Theatre, despite flirting with withdrawing from the competition.

"[When O'Sullivan rang last Thursday] we asked for him to put his request in writing which is our standard procedure," added the World Snooker spokesman.

"He then called on Friday to say he had changed his mind and no longer wished to withdraw from the tournament."

O'Sullivan has won the World Championship on three occasions - in 2001, 2004 and 2008 - and has been the world's number one ranked player on five occasions, winning 22 ranking titles.