Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Johnstone's Paint Masters two days before the tournament begins, citing medical grounds. The seven-time world champion was scheduled to face Australia's Neil Robertson in the first round on Wednesday, but World Snooker announced that Chris Wakelin will replace him.
O'Sullivan, who turned 50 last month, won a record-extending eighth Masters title in 2024 but opted not to defend his crown 12 months ago for the same reason. He has issued conflicting statements about his participation, telling TalkSport in September he would probably not play, but later telling The Sun in November he would play 'if I can', citing his move to Dubai as a factor in prioritising tournaments.
The world number eight has missed several events this season, including the Wuhan Open and the British Open, due to medical reasons or mental health priorities. His last outing was at the UK Championship, where he was eliminated in the first round by Zhou Yuelong.
World Snooker confirmed the withdrawal in a statement, saying O'Sullivan has been replaced by Wakelin, who was the 17th seed at the cut-off point. The tournament at Alexandra Palace in London runs from January 11-18. The exact nature of O'Sullivan's medical condition has not been disclosed.
