Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Johnstone's Paint Masters snooker tournament on medical grounds, just two days before the event is due to start. The seven-time world champion, who turned 50 last month, was scheduled to face Australia's Neil Robertson in the first round on Wednesday 14 January at Alexandra Palace.
O'Sullivan, the defending champion after winning a record-extending eighth Masters title in 2024, has been replaced in the draw by Chris Wakelin, who was the 17th seed at the cut-off point. World Snooker confirmed the withdrawal in a statement, noting that O'Sullivan pulled out for medical reasons, the exact nature of which has not been disclosed.
This is not the first time O'Sullivan has missed the tournament on medical grounds; he gave the same reason for his absence 12 months ago. The current world number eight has made contradictory statements about his participation, telling TalkSport in September that he probably would not play, but later telling The Sun in November he would play 'if I can', citing his move to Dubai last summer as a factor in prioritising certain tournaments.
O'Sullivan has missed several events this season, including the Wuhan Open and the British Open, citing medical reasons or the need to prioritise his mental health. His last competitive appearance was at the UK Championship before Christmas, where he was eliminated in the first round by Zhou Yuelong.
