Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has dropped out of this year’s Northern Ireland Open at short notice.
The Waterfront Hall event will be the third straight tournament the Englishman has missed for medical reasons. Earlier this month, he sat out both the British Open and the Wuhan Open.
O’Sullivan’s withdrawal was confirmed by the World Snooker Tour on Sunday night. His first-round opponent Long Zehuang has received a bye into the last 32.
On Sunday, Mark Selby crashed out of the Belfast tournament, losing 4-3 to Louis Heathcote. However, Judd Trump defeated Ishpreet Singh Chadha 4-0.