O'Sullivan opened the 2026-27 campaign with limited impact, as a semi-final appearance at the Wuhan Open stood as his sole highlight across five events entered.

Two last-16 exits came before that semi-final run, yet first-round losses followed in Shenzhen and Belfast.

Over two years he collected £513,750 from ranking events, placing him £99,350 ahead of Ali Carter in 16th and £154,650 clear of Zhou Yuelong in 17th on £359,100.

At first sight the margin looks secure, though strong results from those below could still force him into World Championship qualifying next May.

Future complications exist, since more than a third of his total stems from the Saudi Arabia Masters final in August 2025.

The £200,000 earned in Jeddah remains valid past the 2027 World Championship but will fall outside the rolling period early in the 2027-28 season.

Replacement earnings are unavailable because the event, which carried the largest prize fund outside the UK, ended in April.

Consequently he will require consistent performances across the coming 18 months to protect an automatic place at the 2028 World Championship.

Entering additional tournaments could increase his ranking income, given his lighter schedule in recent seasons.

Withdrawals have often been linked to medical issues or mental-health priorities.

During 2025-26 he focused mainly on Asian events and appeared in Britain only at the UK Championship and World Championship.

His visit to Belfast marked the first UK ranking event outside the Triple Crown series since the English Open in September 2024.

His most recent ranking title arrived at the World Grand Prix in January of that year.

Following the Wuhan Open semi-final defeat in August, O'Sullivan stated he was not ready to step away.

He has also set a personal deadline of 2028 to surpass Hendry's record with an eighth world title.

Should he drop outside the top 16, he has ruled out World Championship qualifying and indicated retirement would follow instead.

Sixteen places are decided through qualifying, a path taken by players including Hendry, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui and Steve Davis after earlier exits from the elite group.

O'Sullivan sees no appeal in that route.

"I'd love to win another World Championship. I've got two attempts at it," O'Sullivan told World Snooker Tour in July.

"If I don't do it this season or the next season, then it'll definitely never happen.

"I'm not going to play qualifiers. You won't be seeing me go down to Barnsley trying to win qualifying matches and all that sort of stuff.

"I have to be realistic. If that happens, then obviously that's the end of my career. But hopefully, I can keep going for at least another two seasons."

Playing more events offers the clearest route to avoiding a tough exit decision, yet his openness about depression and anxiety suggests he may not increase his schedule.

Retirement threats have surfaced before, dating back to his teens, yet he has shown exceptional staying power with world titles from 2001 to 2022.

Declining results and reduced earnings now suggest the final phase of an extraordinary career may be approaching.