Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Welsh Open just hours before his scheduled first-round match, leaving fans in Llandudno bitterly disappointed.
The seven-time world champion was due to face Jamie Clarke at 1pm on Tuesday at Venue Cymru, with Clarke receiving a bye to the last 32.
The late withdrawal marks O’Sullivan’s latest tournament absence, having already pulled out of the Masters, German Masters and an exhibition in Finland over the past month.
Daniel Rees, who travelled six hours from Cardiff and stayed overnight in Chester, discovered O’Sullivan’s withdrawal just minutes before reaching the venue.
Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out of the Welsh Open hours before it got underway
PA
“We got the train up last night and stayed overnight in Chester, got up early this morning and he was still in the line-up,” Rees told Express Sport.
“But when we were 10 minutes away from the venue they announced it on the TV.”
Rees accused the late announcement of showing “a complete lack of respect for travelling fans,” noting that some spectators had come from as far as Canada to watch O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan has not competed since his Championship League appearance in January, where he snapped his cue and struck the table in frustration after losing four of his five matches.
The incident preceded his withdrawal from the Masters just 24 hours before a scheduled clash with John Higgins at Alexandra Palace.
World Snooker Tour confirmed that O’Sullivan’s Welsh Open withdrawal was made on the morning of the event, adding to a growing list of tournament absences this season.
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Reports have suggested medical reasons may have contributed to his recent lack of action.
Speaking to Eurosport about his earlier Masters withdrawal, O’Sullivan explained: “It was a nightmare decision to make. I’ve obviously been on this three-week trip away playing, and I just think I exhausted myself.”
“There was a lot of pressure while I was away, and I just think the build-up of all that kind of just got a bit too much, really,” he added.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of several events already this year
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O’Sullivan also revealed he “lost the plot” and snapped his cue during his last competitive appearance, making it “unplayable.”
O’Sullivan is next scheduled to return to competitive action at the World Open in Yushan, China, where he is due to face Stuart Carrington on February 23rd.
The Welsh Open withdrawal marks his sixth ranking tournament absence this season, raising questions about his participation in upcoming events.