Snooker superstar Ronnie O’Sullivan has blasted north London landmark Alexandra Palace as “disgusting, dirty and freezing” and says it gives him the “heebie jeebies”.
Making his views known while competing for an eighth Masters title at Ally Pally, O’Sullivan criticised the venue's cleanliness and lack of heating.
O’Sullivan laid into the landmark after defeating rivals Ding Junhui and Barry Hawkins, and advancing to the semi-finals of the Masters.
Despite impressive scores of 6-3 against competitor Hawkins, O’Sullivan's did not hold back in his criticism of 'the Palace of the People'.
The seven-time champion told the Express: "I just don’t like this place.
"I find it disgusting.
"Everywhere is dirty.
"It’s cold.
"It’s freezing, I have to wear my coat everywhere.
"Honestly, it just makes me feel ill.
"I’m a bit of a clean freak and when I come in here it gives me the heebie-jeebies.
"I just can’t wait to get out of here."
The snooker player also voiced his dissatisfaction with the landmark's car park and media catering areas.
He said he found the sight of leftover food unsettling, adding that this left him feeling ill.
The World Snooker Tour responded to the criticisms, saying that they collaborate with Alexandra Palace to ensure the best conditions for players both on and off the table.
They stressed that other players have "spoken with unanimous positivity" about the venue and noted its popularity amongst fans, adding that consistently sold-out standard admission seats and record ticket sales serve as testimony to this.
A spokesperson for Alexandra Palace said: "We love hosting the Masters and welcoming all the players and fans to the Palace.
"We work tirelessly to provide an arena and atmosphere that this great event deserves.
"We’ve been proud of the overwhelming positive feedback the venue has received in recent years, and it’s obviously disappointing that Ronnie feels differently."
They added that they hoped O'Sullivan enjoyed the rest of his time at the ongoing tournament.
Meanwhile, O’Sullivan is due to play against Shaun Murphy in the upcoming semi-finals on Saturday.
This follows Murphy's victory over Jack Lisowski, also with a score of 6-3.
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