Snooker superstar Ronnie O'Sullivan has made a late withdrawal from the prestigious Masters tournament, citing medical grounds just two days before the event was due to begin at Alexandra Palace in London.
Last-Minute Withdrawal Shakes Tournament Draw
The shock announcement from World Snooker came on the eve of the tournament, which runs from January 11 to 18. O'Sullivan, the current world number eight, was scheduled to face Australia's Neil Robertson, the world number three, in a blockbuster opening-round match on Wednesday, January 14th.
He has been replaced in the draw by Chris Wakelin, who was the 17th seed at the cut-off point. The exact nature of the medical condition forcing O'Sullivan's absence has not been publicly disclosed by the player or the governing body.
History Repeats for the Rocket
This marks the second consecutive year the 'Rocket' has pulled out of the Masters. He opted not to defend the crown he won for a record-extending eighth time in 2024, giving the same medical reason for his withdrawal 12 months ago.
The snooker legend, who celebrated his 50th birthday last month, has sent mixed signals about his participation in recent months. In September, he told talkSPORT he "probably won't play the Masters this year." However, he later suggested to The Sun in November that he would play "if I can," explaining that his move to Dubai meant he had to be selective about which tournaments to enter.
A Season of Selective Appearances
O'Sullivan's last competitive outing was at the UK Championship before Christmas, where he holds a record eight titles. His campaign there was short-lived, ending in a first-round defeat to China's Zhou Yuelong.
This season has seen the seven-time world champion miss several other events, including the Wuhan Open and the British Open. On those occasions, he cited either medical reasons or a desire to prioritise his mental health and wellbeing.
His latest withdrawal leaves a major void in the line-up for one of snooker's most celebrated Triple Crown events, disappointing fans who had hoped to see the sport's biggest draw in action at Ally Pally.
