Seven-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has once again decided to withdraw from the German Masters for the third consecutive year, citing medical reasons for his absence. The 49-year-old legend was due to compete against rising Welsh star Dylan Emery in the opening round, but Emery will now receive a bye following O’Sullivan’s withdrawal. This marks another instance where O’Sullivan has opted out of a major event after previously pulling out of the Championship League and the Masters, citing exhaustion as the reason for his absence in the latter tournament.
The German Masters, set to begin on January 27 in Berlin, will proceed without O’Sullivan’s participation. This decision did not come as a surprise to many followers of the sport, given O’Sullivan’s recent pattern of withdrawals. The World Snooker Tour (WST) released a statement last week confirming O’Sullivan’s absence, stating, “Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from next week’s Machineseeker German Masters due to medical reasons.” Earlier in the season, O’Sullivan had also withdrawn from the Championship League in Leicester after a series of disappointing performances, where he decided to skip his final match.
Additionally, he withdrew from the Ally Pally Masters scheduled later in January after being drawn against another snooker icon, John Higgins. O’Sullivan shared his decision-making process with Eurosport, admitting the difficulty in stepping back from such big events. He mentioned feeling exhausted after a three-week trip playing snooker and facing immense pressure during that time. As a result, he believed it was the right choice not to compete and provide the replacement player with ample notice.
With O’Sullivan’s absence from the German Masters, fellow top players like Judd Trump and Ding Junhui will also miss the tournament, though no reasons were provided for Ding’s withdrawal. As a result, the opponents of these players will automatically advance to the round of 32. O’Sullivan’s decision has left fans and pundits speculating on his future tournament appearances and potential return to top form. As the snooker world awaits his next move, questions loom over his health and readiness to compete at the highest level.
Despite O’Sullivan’s absence, the German Masters remains a highly anticipated event in the snooker calendar, with top players vying for the prestigious title. Followers of the sport will be closely watching how the tournament unfolds in O’Sullivan’s absence and how the remaining players perform in his stead. As the competition kicks off, the focus will shift to the action on the baize and the outcomes that will shape the rest of the season for the participants. Stay tuned for more updates on the German Masters and the world of snooker as the drama unfolds on the green baize.