Ronnie O'Sullivan describes conditions as 'hardest' of career, but why is he unhappy with snooker table at Xi'an Grand Prix?
By Desmond Kane
Published 09/10/2025 at 09:18 GMT+1
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has aired his concerns with the conditions at the Xi'an Grand Prix despite producing some fine scoring form with his new cue at the sixth ranking event of the season. The snooker GOAT has coasted through to the last 32 and a meeting with Stephen Maguire on Thursday afternoon, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, but is battling humidity as much as the balls in China.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has compiled three centuries and three 50-plus breaks during his run to the last 32 of the Xi'an Grand Prix, but the seven-time world champion is far from content with the conditions at the ranking event.
Despite coasting past Iulian Boiko (5-0) and Yao Pengcheng (5-1) in the first two rounds in his first competitive action since his run to the Saudi Arabia Masters final in August, O'Sullivan feels heavy humidity is playing havoc with his plan of attack on the main TV table inside the Qujiang Sports Complex.
"The conditions were so hard," he told reporters ahead of his meeting with Stephen Maguire in the last 32 on Thursday afternoon at 12:30, live on TNT sports and discovery+.
"Probably the hardest conditions I’ve ever had to play in.
"The balls won’t open up, you can’t screw back. The white just runs on forever. Cushions are bouncing."
Tournament organisers World Snooker Tour released a statement in response to O'Sullivan's concerns.
"The number of century breaks and 147s this season indicate that conditions have never been better across the tour," said the statement.
"It’s always a challenge to make conditions perfect in different territories across the globe, particularly in humid climates.
"We work closely with our partners and the players to make conditions as good as possible."
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Judd Trump and Aaron Hill have both produced 147 breaks at the Xi'an Grand Prix in an overall tournament haul of 42 centuries before the last-32 stage.
O'Sullivan has his own remedy for the situation as the chase for the £177,000 first prize gathers pace with the best-of-19 frame final set to be contested on Monday at the sixth ranking event of the season.
"If they want to see some good snooker this week, I’d suggest they change the cloth every day because it’s so damp," he said.
"Virtually impossible to move the white around and open the balls up."
O'Sullivan's issue with humidity is nothing new for snooker and is not only restricted to Asia.
Trump, Neil Robertson and Kyren Wilson all berated the conditions of the table at the York Barbican during last year's UK Championship, a competition traditionally staged by the city in late November and early December.
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After Robertson lost 6-3 to world No. 1 Trump in the last 32, the 2010 world champion bemoaned the conditions.
"That was as tough as I’d ever played on," Robertson told reporters. "It was as unplayable as it gets in professional conditions.
"Being such a tough sport anyway, it can make either player look stupid."
Despite winning the match, Trump shared his opponents concerns, commenting: "I’ve played in some bad conditions, but that was close.
"It’s disappointing as it seems to be the bigger events. It was very heavy all the time. I’ve always struggled here because the tables are so heavy.
"All the players have been struggling. Hopefully, they can do something about it."
A similar statement from WST explained the situation at the time.
"We always strive to provide the best possible conditions and welcome feedback from players," said a spokesperson.
"The recent weather has seen a large volume of rainfall and high humidity around the country.
"This can negatively influence the conditions."
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Meanwhile, working as a pundit for TNT Sports during the UK Championship, O'Sullivan offered the opinion that the table is the same for both players, and adapting to the conditions better is always key to success at the top level.
"I never really get that when people complain about the conditions, because you're playing on the same table," he said.
"It's not like your opponent has got a great table and you're playing on a bad table.
"Or in golf when you go out in the morning and the weather is fantastic and then at 15:00 the weather can change and it's hailstones. Okay, I get that.
"But actually, the conditions are the conditions. It's about who adapts. You never hear me complaining about tables because I know it's the same for both of us.
"You just have to find a way to get the best out of the table."
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