Ronnie O’Sullivan crashed out of the Masters this week in a 6-1 defeat to Mark Allen and threatened to retire from the sport.

The 42-year-old reiterated claims he would not play at the World Championship in April and said it would not be long before he hangs up his cue.

Many think the Rocket’s departure from snooker will be severely damaging as there will be no one left to draw in the big crowds.

However, world snooker chairman Barry Hearn is not concerned if he retires and expects a new player to come in and fill his shoes.

"It's his choice not mine [to miss the World Championship],” Hearn told the BBC.

“I believe we'll see him there and if we don't I think he's making a bad choice. 

“My dream would be Ronnie lasts forever but my other dream is I produce six more Ronnie O'Sullivans to replace him when he goes.

We had exactly the same thing in the world of darts - Phil Taylor has retired and everyone says, 'he's the greatest player ever, what are we going to do?'

"He retires, someone else wins, the game hits bigger figures than it's hit before and snooker will be the same."

Speaking after his defeat to Allen in the Masters, O’Sullivan insisted his threats of missing the Worlds was not empty.

“I know people didn't really take me seriously but I probably will miss this year's World Championship,” he said.

“I come back to snooker for different reasons. It's just a bit of time-passer for me.

“I’ve already explained before I want to try and get out of snooker as quickly as I can.

"I still play because I still have some snooker fans that love to watch me play and I'll still play in some tournaments.

“But as far as I'm concerned, it's probably better I do a month in Australia for Hustle [TV show] while the World Championship is on because I would find it difficult at home watching and not being part of it.

"17 days in Sheffield isn't the greatest of things is it?"