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Ronnie O’Sullivan has savaged the Crucible format – insisting the World Championship could be slashed in half.

The sport’s blue-riband tournament lasts for 17 days – and the champion must win 71 frames in a possible total of 137 played.

The Rocket has lifted the trophy five times but O’Sullivan claims he does not enjoy the event and feels only relief at the end.

And the 40-year-old reckons a worthy winner can be produced in far less time than the current marathon.

Any such move would provoke a storm of protest. When supremo Barry Hearn cut the length of UK Championship matches he was heavily criticised by players.

But O’Sullivan said: “I am not really looking forward to playing at Sheffield, to be honest. For me, it goes on far too long and I am not sure yet how I will approach that tournament.

(Image: Getty)

“It is a very long time — longer than the Olympics.

“First and foremost it is a lot of table time. You have a best of 19 frame match, two best of 25s, a best of 33 and a best of 35 to win.

“The final is over two long days of four sessions, and the semi-finals over three days. The Darts World Championship final is over in two and a half hours.

“I honestly think the world final could be played over the best of 17 frames — first to nine — and have it all done in one day.

“Who needs to play a best-of-25 frame match in the last 16, or one opponent over three days in the semis or even earlier rounds?

“I don’t like it, even though I have won it five times. It is my worst tournament, it goes on and on and on.

(Image: Getty)

“And every time I have won it I have felt a huge sense of relief, and just been glad it was over rather than pure joy.

“The Masters is the perfect tournament, that’s the model for all the big events. The Worlds could be best of 11s, maybe best of 13s for the semis and best of 17 for the final. That is plenty, more than enough.

“For me it is about enjoying playing now, and Sheffield is one of the events I least like playing in – but of course it is our World Championship.

“I would enjoy it more if I went on a tour of Asia or something. I’m sure I won’t and will be there, but that’s how I really feel and don’t look forward to it.

“That said, it is what it is and you have to get on with it while it has this format.”

Things could be worse for O’Sullivan.

When Fred Davis beat Walter Donaldson in the 1948 World Championship final the score was 84 frames to 61!