The 2025 Masters has been dealt a huge blow with defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrawing from the tournament.
The World Snooker Tour confirmed O’Sullivan’s withdrawal on Friday morning, announcing Neil Roberston would be replacing him.
Their statement read: “Neil Robertson has replaced Ronnie O’Sullivan in the draw for the upcoming Johnstone’s Paint Masters.
“Last year’s champion O’Sullivan was due to face John Higgins in the opening match on Sunday afternoon, but has withdrawn on medical grounds
Ronnie O’Sullivan is the defending Masters champion
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“Higgins will now face Robertson, who was ranked in 17th position at the seeding cutoff after the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.”
O’Sullivan won a record eighth Masters title last year, defeating rival Ali Carter in the final.
The 49-year-old won a total of five titles last season in one of the most dominant campaigns of his career.
But he’s struggled to carry that form into this season and is yet to reach the final of any event.
O’Sullivan has won just four of 13 matches since reaching the quarter-finals of the Saudi Arabia Masters back in September.
His poor form continued this week in the Champions League after losing four of his five games in Group Three.
He had one more match to play against Carter, but instead withdrew from the match before it got underway.
O’Sullivan let his frustrations get the better of him during defeat to Robert Milkins on Thursday morning.
Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Ali Carter in last year’s Masters final
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He whacked the table with his cue at one stage and also smashed the white ball into a pack of red in anger.
Dominic Dale reported on commentary that O’Sullivan was so angry with his display against Milkins that he broke his cue afterwards.
Dale said: “He actually smashed up his cue, he was so displeased with his performances and so he’ll be playing with a new cue at the Ally Pally.”
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Ronnie O’Sullivan has struggled for form this season
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But O’Sullivan won’t be returning to Alexandra Palace this weekend, where he was set to face off against fellow class of 92 alumnus Higgins.
The hotly-anticipated match would have been the 80th professional meeting between the two.
O’Sullivan only just holds the edge over the Scotsman in their head-to-head record, winning 41 times to Higgins’ 35 victories.