THREE-TIME WORLD champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has accused snooker’s governing body of ‘raping’ him by forcing him to play in low-key tournaments that offer underwhelming prize money.

O’Sullivan – who has courted controversy throughout his career – says he is being “blackmailed” by the sport’s chiefs because of their rankings system.

O’Sullivan won the Players Tour Championship in Gloucester recently – claiming a ‘mere’ £10,000 in prize money. He was compelled to compete in the unglamourous tournament in order to secure his invaluable top-16 ranking.

‘The Rocket’ also insists that players less wealthy than he are losing out on tournament pots. The next of these events is in Killarney this weekend.

“I feel like I’m being raped when I’m playing in them,” O’Sullivan said yesterday to Press Association reporters.

“I feel I’m being blackmailed. They put these ranking events on and ranking points at these tournaments and it just feels like the winner’s prize is not great, the loser’s prize…most players are going there and losing money, but they’re putting ranking points on so it’s forcing the players to play in it, which is not great, but what do you do?

“You have to go.”

For more information read the Guardian

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