Ronnie O’Sullivan will not take part in the Weide Cup World Open after withdrawing from the competition due to ‘medical reasons.’
The news was confirmed in a statement issued by the World Snooker Tour (WST) on Tuesday, with the tournament beginning on Sunday.
“Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of next week’s Weide Cup World Open for medical reasons,” a statement read.
“O’Sullivan was due to face Stuart Carrington in the opening round this Sunday, but instead he will be replaced by the highest ranked available player on the 2024 Q School Order of Merit, Daniel Womersley.
“The tournament in Yushan, China, runs from February 23rd to March 1st.”
The seven-time world champion extends his absence from the sport, following his withdrawals from the Masters and Welsh Open respectively.
O’Sullivan was set to open his Masters campaign against John Higgins, but pulled out just over a day before the match.
The Rocket’s last competitive outing came in the Championship League last month, where he snapped his cue. O’Sullivan then withdrew from his final group-stage match against Ali Carter.
O’Sullivan is yet to win an event this season, and continues a disruptive fallout to the World Championship in April.
He has also missed the Shoot Out, Scottish Open and German Masters, in a troubled season for one of the sport’s all-time greats.
He said: “I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew.
“So I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who’ve been disappointed with me having to pull out of those tournaments.
“I’ve been trying to prioritise my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.
“It’s never an easy decision and I hate letting people down.
“I’m doing what I can to get back to my best, and I’m grateful for all your support and understanding.”
Focus will now shift to his participation at the World Grand Prix – where O’Sullivan is the defending champion – but there are doubts over his participation in that particular tournament, which begins on March 4.
He has been drawn to face Si Jiahui in a competition comprising the top 23 players in the one-year ranking list.
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Publish date : 2025-02-18 09:15:00
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