Ambitious: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s gets real on reason for living on £130k canal boat before finally leaving the UK…
Ronnie O’Sullivan
From Canal-Boat Calm to a New Chapter Abroad
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has long been one of snooker’s most colourful figures — not just for his play on the table, but for his off-table decisions and lifestyle choices. A particularly curious episode: living (or rather owning) a £130,000 canal boat in the UK, before ultimately making the move to leave Britain altogether and start a new life overseas.
Here’s a breakdown of the story: why he bought the boat, why he sold it, and why he’s now heading out of the UK.
Why the Canal Boat?
In 2020, O’Sullivan revealed that he had purchased a 60-foot luxury canal boat (prices reported at about £130,000) and moored it on a waterway in the UK.
He admitted that despite the purchase, he “never spent a night on it”.
He said he and a friend had talked about getting a campervan instead, “going around Europe doing obscure running races” — showing his restless urge for change and mobility.
In another write-up, the boat is listed among his “quirky tastes” despite his multi-million-pound empire.
What might have motivated the boat purchase?
O’Sullivan is known for being drawn to alternative and unorthodox lifestyles — the canal boat, for all its indulgence, also signals a desire for freedom, privacy and an escape from the regular trappings of celebrity.
It could also have been a kind of experiment or novelty: he told the interviewer the boat “wasn’t getting used” which suggests it was more of a concept than a fully integrated home.
Finally, the boat fit his broader theme of restless movement — he is notorious for loving running, travel and change of scenery. Buying something unusual may simply have aligned with that mindset.
Why Sell It?
The admission that he never actually stayed on the boat may explain why the experiment didn’t stick. From the interview:
> “I’m looking at getting a campervan … Me and my mate are thinking of getting one … but the boat… if it’s just like the boat and doesn’t get used, then she won’t be too happy.”
This suggests a combination of factors:
The boat may have been impractical for his lifestyle — his work, travel commitments, and training regime may not have allowed simple cruising or living on board.
The boat possibly didn’t deliver the escape or change of pace he hoped for; when you buy something but never use it, it often becomes a liability rather than a pleasure.
The quote shows he was already looking for “what’s next”, meaning the boat serves as a transitional step rather than a destination.
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The Decision to Leave the UK
In May 2025, O’Sullivan announced that he would be leaving the UK and relocating to the Middle East, citing need for a “new life somewhere else.”
Key points:
He told reporters, “I’ll be moving away to the Middle East. We’ll see how it goes, I might be back in six months. A new life somewhere else.”
He already has a snooker academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the move aligns with his increasing involvement in international snooker (especially the Gulf region).
Additionally, his move to Hong Kong residency under the Quality Migrant Scheme was confirmed in October 2024 — he noted that the tax regime there was “a good thing” for someone travelling internationally.
Reasons combining into his UK departure:
Frustration: He has voiced irritation with certain UK tournament venues and the general snooker infrastructure at home.
Opportunity: The Middle East & Asia present expanding markets, higher commercial potential and fresh challenges.
Lifestyle: Warm climate, different pace of life, less media pressure, more freedom to choose how and when he plays.
Tax & mobility: With global income, residencies in lower-tax jurisdictions make sense for someone of his stature.
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How It All Connects
When you pull together the detail of the canal boat, the boat’s failure to become home, and his ultimate decision to relocate, a pattern emerges:
O’Sullivan is someone who resists settling into one stagnant mode. Even with all his success and trappings, he still seeks change.
The canal-boat period can be seen as a micro-episode of this restlessness: buy the boat, try the idea, realise it doesn’t quite work, and move on.
That frame seems to apply at a macro level too: his leaving the UK is not just a move of residence, but a symbolic next phase — new geography, new priorities, new comforts.
The move suggests that what he once considered a home (the UK) no longer fully matches his evolving sense of identity, business, lifestyle or purpose.
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What This Means for His Future
While he may still compete in the UK and world snooker events, he clearly is structuring his life around something broader than just winning trophies.
His academy and business pursuits in the Middle East and Asia signal that he is preparing for a post-peak playing career, making long-term moves now rather than later.
For fans and observers, it might mean fewer appearances in British venues, but possibly more global events, exhibitions, and work in snooker development.
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In Summary
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s decision to live briefly in a luxury canal boat and then ultimately decide to leave the UK is not simply about personal whims — it reflects a mindset of continuous reinvention. The boat was a symbolic attempt to shift gear; the move abroad is a larger reconfiguration of his life. As he once put it: he loves running, he loves freedom, he loves being comfortable — and he also knows when the old shape of things no longer fits.
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