Jimmy White has expressed his concern over Ronnie O’Sullivan ahead of this year’s World Snooker Championship.
O’Sullivan last played at the Championship League in January where he snapped his cue during defeat to Robert Milkins.
The 49-year-old then withdrew before pulling out of the Masters on medical grounds, as well as the German Masters and Welsh Open.
O’Sullivan could return to the table for the 2025 World Championship at The Crucible where he’d have the chance to win a record eighth title.
However, two-time major winner White has sent him a warning about his recent lack of matches, which he outlined as a ‘problem’.
“What do you think Ronnie’s doing with his career at the moment?” Stephen Hendry asked him on his Cue Tips YouTube series.
“Listen, he’d like to get to eight to beat your record,” responded White. “But I think you’ve got to get your act together.
“You can’t keep not playing in competitions and then expect… okay, he did have that year out, came back and won it.”
White added: “He still practices, he’s still playing all the time.
“I’m sitting on Eurosport sometimes and he says he hasn’t played, the cameramen have just got the balls out for him for four hours.”
White then admitted that he believes O’Sullivan will compete in this year’s World Championship, which begins on April 19.
“I think he will get it together for the Crucible this year. Whether he’ll win it or not, I don’t know.”
“I think he will prepare,” White added. “But the problem I’ve got with him, he’s got no match… He’s not sharp, he’s not played any matches.”
O’Sullivan looks set to make his return at the 2025 World Grand Prix in Hong Kong next month.
“I am really looking forward to coming to Hong Kong to play in the World Grand Prix,” he said as per Eurosport.
“I have just been having a little break, to keep myself fresh. I am excited to see you all.”
O’Sullivan has been drawn against Si Jiahui and could face world no.1 Judd Trump in the quarter-finals.
Attention will soon turn towards the World Championship, where the snooker icon could equal Fred Davis and John Pulman on eight titles.