O'Sullivan announces return to action

Four-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has confirmed that he will defend his title at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre in April

The 37-year-old, who won the World Championship in 2001, 2004, 2008 and 2012, pulled out of the 2012-13 season three months ago because of "personal issues" and said at the time that he would not be playing in Sheffield.

However O'Sullivan, who beat Ali Carter in last year's final and will be the top seed for the 2013 competition, has now had a change of heart.

There had been concerns that O'Sullivan would announce that he would be quitting the game altogether but he is now 7.00 to win his fifth world title in Sheffield. Carter is 26.00 to win the tournament, while John Higgins can be backed at 9.00 and Judd Trump at 6.50.

O'Sullivan said: "I just thought it was time to come back. I have a different perspective now. I am used to being written off. I know how good I am and that I can do this.

"I got a bit bored. I needed a rest and I thought it was time to get back to what I have done for a lot of my life. I certainly feel refreshed. I was never out of juice. I don't find snooker hard mentally or physically.

"It is your job and you get used to it. I needed to take time out for other things. I knew I couldn't take too much time out. It was always in the back of my mind that I had to come back and come back with a clear head after sorting a few things out."

O'Sullivan has made just one appearance since winning last year's world title when he suffered an embarrassing defeat to Simon Bedford at a minor tournament in Gloucester.

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