'Ronnie O’Sullivan will thank me one day - just like Chris Eubank', insists Barry Hearn

'Ronnie O’Sullivan will thank me one day - just like Chris Eubank', insists Barry Hearn,Sporting promoter Barry Hearn is expecting a phone call from Ronnie O'Sullivan in the not-so-distant future after trying to steer him on the right track during his most difficult years

‘Ronnie O’Sullivan will thank me one day – just like Chris Eubank’, insists Barry Hearn

Barry Hearn reckons that maverick genius Ronnie O’Sullivan will thank him one day – just as boxer Chris Eubank did in a shock phone call.

The Rocket has been snooker’s biggest box office star for three decades and remains world No1 and joint holder with Stephen Hendry of the record for world titles with seven. But O’Sullivan’s relationship with both the game and the authorities has often been strained before finding more peace since turning to renowned sports psychiatrist Steve Peters in 2011.

Though former World Snooker supremo Hearn has always acknowledged O’Sullivan’s unique ability, there have been many public spats that fuelled the player’s reputation as anti-establishment. Hearn, now a lifetime president of parent organisation Matchroom, often felt compelled to refute allegations and remind O’Sullivan of his ambassadorial responsibilities to the sport.

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Despite O’Sullivan’s criticisms of those running the sport and even his fellow pros, he has amassed £13million in prize money alone, and maybe double that in total from the game. And promoter Hearn, 74, hopes one day O’Sullivan will appreciate that the opportunities offered to him allowed his talent to flourish and thrive.

Eubank was an eccentric, brash and supremely self-confident fighter that rose under Hearn to win world titles at middleweight and super-middleweight. And Hearn said: “It is so satisfying when a player says thank you. Now I am not expecting Ronnie to join that list now…but when he gets older, he will.

“Because he will look back and be reflective and think, ‘I have had a great life, I was a great player. Why did I have a great life? Because I had opportunity’. And that is the one thing about sport that you must never stop delivering for kids to inspire anybody about sport.

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Barry Hearn and Ronnie O'Sullivan didn't share the most courteous relationship

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 10: English, father of boxer Chris Eubank Jr, speaks during the Anthony Joshua & Dillian Whyte Head-to-Head Press Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel on December 10, 2015 in London, England. — Chris Eubank once thanked Barry Hearn for his promotional work (Image: Getty Images)

“Sometimes it takes time to settle down and find out actually who you are. And I think Ronnie has found out who he is. It’s a bit like Steve Davis now. Steve with his music, his Blur concert this summer, Glastonbury..I have never seen someone so happy. He has found where he wants to be.

“And while Ronnie is only one player, he is the most important player. Whilst his decisions might not be in my interest, I actually applaud him for living the life he wants to live. As you get older, you get a bit reflective. There is chasing money, profits and success, but I am just as happy going fishing on my own with a can of worms.

Hearn is now a lifetime president of the promotional organisation Matchroom

O'Sullivan is yet to thank Hearn for keeping him on the right track (Image: PA)

“Ronnie is never going to be ‘Mr Normal’, because geniuses aren’t normal. We watch his career and thank him for the value he adds. And we hope he appreciates what snooker has done for him as well. That may come later rather than earlier.

“Chris Eubank phoned me up the other day. Out of the blue, from somewhere in the world. It sort of went ‘Bazza!’ ‘Hello Chris’. ‘How did you know it was me?’ ‘I just listen to the voice and guess’. ‘Very smart. I have phoned you up to say thank you’. ‘Oh, that is very kind. What are you thanking me for?’

“I hadn’t spoken with him for some time. ‘I realise now that you made me. I thought I made myself. But analysing the past I have come to the conclusion that you made me. I would like to say thank you very much. ‘I said that is very kind of you’. He said ‘Good day’. And he put the phone down.”