Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Weide Cup World Open due to medical reasons, marking his third consecutive month away from competitive play.
The World Snooker Tour (WST) confirmed on Tuesday that O’Sullivan will be replaced by Daniel Womersley for his scheduled first-round match against Stuart Carrington.
Womersley, the highest ranked available player on the 2024 Q School Order of Merit, will step in for the seven-time world champion in the opening round clash, which was due to take place this Sunday.
The tournament in Yushan, China, is scheduled to run from February 23rd to March 1st.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Weide Cup World Open
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The WST released an official statement on Tuesday afternoon, saying: “Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of next week’s Weide Cup World Open for medical reasons.”
“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.”
O’Sullivan’s latest withdrawal extends his absence from competitive snooker into a third month, following earlier tournament pullouts.
The Rocket had previously withdrawn from the Masters in January, where he was set to face John Higgins, just over a day before their anticipated match.
He then called off his Welsh Open appearance on the morning of his scheduled match.
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There had been speculation from Scottish snooker legend Stephen Hendry that O’Sullivan might return to action at the Grand Prix in Hong Kong, but his withdrawal from this warm-up event has cast further doubt on those prospects.
Speaking about his Masters withdrawal, O’Sullivan had explained: “I’ve been on this three-week trip away playing, and I think I just exhausted myself.
“It’s a lot of pressure, the buildup of all that got a bit too much.”
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Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out of the Welsh Open earlier this month on medical grounds
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“I lost the plot on Thursday, snapped my cue so that’s unplayable,” he added.
Fellow tour player Matthew Selt has raised concerns about O’Sullivan’s future in the sport, stating: “You might not see him until the worlds and then there’s a chance he might not even play at them.
“I think it will be a sad day for snooker.
“There aren’t many who don’t like watching him play, even if you’re not a fan of his. It would be the end of an era.”