It's pretty simple really - he either wants to be a professional snooker player or not. Part of that means having to play the 'less glamorous events'. Doesn't mean you have to play every event, but you should be committing to the majority of the game. There are many attributes to being a snooker player, and that has to include some sacrifice (Ronnie has given much to the game, but the game has given so much to him also)

Any snooker fan would love Ronnie to come back, but only if he is willing (and able) to knuckle down and really commit to being a snooker player.

I have said a few times before - the whole Ronnie 'what's he doing story' is becoming tedious, I just hope he decides one way or the other.

Tennis has a much better idea... when you reach a certain age and have played in certain number of matches, your commitment to the game is then lenient. Federer does not have to enter any of the Masters series, and he has never had to enter the PTC equivalents. Tennis' system is 10x better than Snookers, including its points system.

Snooker should be the same.

I don't think it's that simple as applying tennis rules to snooker. Tennis is of course a much more physical sport, and injuries play a greater part, and of course the retirement age is a lot earlier. And whilst Federer does not have to play in any Master series events, he does still play in some of them.

Tennis is well established with a full tour, and players can pick and choose tournaments more easily. Snooker is nowhere near that stage, so whilst players can still choose which events to play, relatively speaking the punishments for not playing enough events is more so than in tennis. It was not so long ago that snooker players were bemoaning the lack of events - PTCs may not be the ideal answer, but players need to commit to play to a certain number of events, that is just part and parcel of the game.

So today is the day when we find out what he's going to be doing. What does everyone reckon? I think he will retire.

I think he'll take up darts and become world champion in 5 years (BDO of course..........)

Who couldn't do that?

Um, Tony O'Shea????

Yeah I suppose.

It's looking 50/50 permanent retirement. So anyone's guess.

Hearn did say he was moving to a position of playing though. Maybe he wants to go out on a high? Of defending the title? Or maybe he has decided he wants to play on but only in the big tournaments.

But really... I mean what is Ronnie gonna do away from Snooker? Snooker is his life...

Anyway what are you boys doing here still? I thought everyone moved to 606v2?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/21584593

Ronnie O'Sullivan will defend his title.

Ronnie O'Sullivan, who announced he will play at the 2013 World Snooker Championship: "I was bored - time to get back."

"A lot of rivals have things to say about you - boot you when you're down. I'm happy to be back, although I'm not sure if they'll be happy to see me back. Let's see if I can get that trophy cabinet stacked up again."

It's good to have Ronnie back because he is such a quality player. However, I admit I am split as to whether I want him to do well or not.

Even a naturally gifted player like O'Suulivan will have a bit of rustiness and not be match-hard, but in the same vain he is so unique that I don't think it would take long for him to get back on song. So one part of me would like to see him at his flowing best and playing great snooker, but another part thinks, I hope someone knocks him out early, just to show that you can't simply turn up and win the biggest tournament.

The excuses will all be lined up if he gets put out, the plaudits will all be lined up if he manages a remarkable victory. Just good that we finally know one way or the other, and I hope more than anything that whatever happens at the worlds, Ronnie commits to the next season.

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So Ronnie is going to defend his titel, i am happy for him but i cant help but feel that he will have to win it if he is going to have somewhat of a future in the game. If he does not win then he will forced to commit himself more to the game than i feel he is capable of.

Judging by Ronnie's comments he says he wants to play in at least another 5 WC and the flat 128 draws come in soon, so he won't need to qualify for any event.