Ronnie O'Sullivan has suggested that snooker would lose its appeal if he was not competing in the sport.

The 37-year-old needs to clinch eight frames in order to secure the World Championship trophy after snatching a 10-7 lead in the final over Barry Hawkins yesterday.

While O'Sullivan has hinted that he could retire following the tournament, the snooker ace believes that he is as important to the game as Tiger Woods is to golf.

"When Tiger Woods had his time out, I didn't want to watch golf unless Tiger was playing," the London Evening Standard quotes O'Sullivan as saying.

"In some ways, I think that's what people would like from me - to play, whether I win or lose."

If O'Sullivan wins the trophy, he will become the first player since Stephen Hendry in 1996 to successfully defend the title.