‘I don’t care anymore’: Ronnie O’Sullivan says he mentally quit snooker eight years ago

Speaking to the BBC after his 4-3 second-round loss to Grace, the world number 62, O’Sullivan said: "I don’t have the passion or desire for it [snooker]. I give it what I feel like it deserves.

"If I had to choose to do this I wouldn’t. I don’t care anymore."

The 46-year-old, who initially led 2-0, added: "The job ain’t worth the stress and hassle. Sometimes a loss is a blessing in disguise. It just allows me to do other stuff."

O’Sullivan lost to Alex Ursenbacher in the first round of the British Open in September before beating Marco Fu in the final of the Hong Kong Masters earlier this month.

"If I can play one good tournament a year that will do for me, cut the mediocre ones. That's enough really," he said.

"I quit mentally about eight years ago and I just take what I can from the sport. It's a good platform for me, allows me to do other stuff and gives me a lot of freedom.

"As far as winning goes or cementing my name in the game there isn't enough good stuff in the game to get excited about. One day I'll wake up and get excited and play a good tournament, but if I don't I don't really care any more.

"I'll pot a few balls, get paid, it's just become like an emotionless-type job. I just make it work for me."

O’Sullivan, who will now work in Belfast as a television pundit, added: "I wouldn't even play in the tournament if I wasn't working for Eurosport. I wouldn't play, wouldn't do it at all.

"The game doesn't interest me, the events don't interest me, the calendar doesn't interest me, just making a business out of it kind of interests me.

"I've earned that right, really. I can do what I like when I like and if I never win another match I think I've earned the right to do it my way."