Today the four-time champion tackles showman Trump in a match he is determined to win to reach another final in Sheffield.

But the 37-year-old, who has spent most of the last year in self-imposed exile from the sport, claims he only returned to action because he needed the money to pay overdue school fees.

He has vowed to retire, claiming snooker is bad for his health.

Asked if he would be in Sheffield for next year’s World Championship, O’Sullivan said last night: “I’ve no intention to come back.

“If I find something else to do, you definitely won’t see me.

“I’ve kept my cards close to my chest but there’s no reason to keep them close now.

“This is my last farewell, it’s my swansong. I’m happy; I’m done.

“I can’t keep putting myself through being unhappy.

“I wish I could just smile it off, shrug it off, but it’s not like that for me. I wish I had the attitude of players who come here and smile and enjoy it. I just beat myself up too much and it’s not healthy.”

O’Sullivan brushed aside Stuart Bingham 13-4 in the quarter-finals but Trump should provide a stiff test in the three-day semi-final, that precedes the two-day final.

“I’ll be out there trying my nuts off,” O’Sullivan said. “I’m a competitor and I hate losing. I will fight to the death. They’ll have to scrape me off the table.

“I’ve got five days left potentially – it could possibly be three – and if I can’t get through that then something’s seriously wrong.

“The light at the end of the tunnel is it doesn’t have to go on any longer.”

He added: “I’ll be honest, I still owe the school money for my children’s school fees – I haven’t paid the last two or three terms.

“I didn’t know what was going to happen here but I’ve made a little bit of money now so I can go and pay the school fees now for the next two years.

“But really I don’t think snooker is for me. This could be my last proper major event.

“I have signed a contract with my sponsor to play in 10 events so I’ll play in those.”

But O’Sullivan stated those events could include Legends tour events, and low-profile tournaments, and stressed there was no stipulation that he should appear at events such as the UK Championship, Masters or another World Championship.

Trump said he is not frightened of O’Sullivan and their clash promises to be a classic, just like Trump’s 13-12 quarter-final victory over Shaun Murphy.

“I’ve got a good record against Ronnie,” Trump said. “I’ve beaten him more times than he’s beaten me, so hopefully I can go out and scare him.

“I think people are just scared of the name. The big stage is where I want to be. I’m not scared of the name.”

While O’Sullivan and Trump start this afternoon, first-time Crucible semi-finalists Ricky Walden and Barry Hawkins begin their match this evening.

Kent man Hawkins, 34, ousted former UK and Masters champion Ding Junhui 13-7 in the quarter-finals, and Walden saw off 21-year-old Welsh qualifier Michael White 13-6.