Ronnie O'Sullivan launches auction house and snooker channel

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the seven-time world snooker champion, announced he is part of a new business venture establishing an auction house, Edwins Auctioneers and Valuers, which will open on November 3. In a video message posted on social media, O'Sullivan invited people to bring items for valuation or to bid at the new firm. He has also been involved in launching a dedicated snooker television channel, Pluto Snooker 900, which is being promoted as a 24-hour station focused on the sport.

The announcements come as O'Sullivan continues to combine off-table projects with an active playing schedule. He has twice missed consecutive events recently, including the English and British Opens, citing health reasons for at least one withdrawal. On the table, he produced a dominant 5-0 victory over Stephen Maguire in the last 32 of the Xian Grand Prix earlier this month, compiling breaks of 134, 70, 63 and 85 in a one-sided match.

Maguire said the defeat was a "brutal reality check" and praised O'Sullivan's form, adding that the result had made him realise "how far away I am" and prompted extra practice. Maguire, a former world number two now ranked outside the top 20, has struggled for...