Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from next week's British Open on medical grounds, with the snooker star setting an 18-month deadline to revive his career amid his battle with mental health and issues with his game.
The 50-year-old was due to play Mateusz Baranowski in the opening round of the tournament in Cheltenham on Monday, but his withdrawal has now been announced by the World Snooker Tour. The announcement came shortly after O'Sullivan lost to Chang Bingyu in the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open on Friday, with The Rocket admitting that "the disease came back big time today".
Fourth consecutive British Open absence
O'Sullivan, who struggles with depression and anxiety, has taken steps to prioritise his mental wellbeing in recent years, opting not to participate in several major tournaments. This is the fourth year in a row he has missed the British Open while, outside of Triple Crown events, he has not featured in a UK ranking tournament since September 2024.
"Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of next week’s Unibet British Open for medical reasons," read the statement from the World Snooker Tour on Friday. "O’Sullivan was due to play Mateusz Baranowski on Monday, August 31."
"He has been replaced in the draw by Mark Joyce. The tournament in Cheltenham runs from August 31 to September 6."
O'Sullivan's candid admission
The statement was issued shortly after the seven-time world champion missed out on the final of the Wuhan Open as he suffered a disappointing defeat to Chang. It came after O'Sullivan had expressed frustration with his performances throughout the tournament, referring to a "disease" in his game that he admits he doesn't know if he will ever be able to overcome.
Speaking to WST.TV, the snooker great was typically candid as he said: "The disease came back big time today. If I’m honest I don’t think I will ever get over it."
"I will see out the next 18 months and see how we go," he added. "I don’t want to throw the towel in just yet. I’ve committed to playing until then. I want to give myself a chance. I’d hate to finish my career on performances like that."
Zero confidence
After beating Mark Selby in the quarter-final earlier this week, O'Sullivan had made further reference to the "disease", admitting that he is "playing with zero confidence".
"I don't ever get involved in personalities when I'm playing the game, I'm always focused on how I'm hitting the ball," he said. "Am I playing well enough to play every shot that I need to play? I haven't been."
"I'm worried that whoever I play against at the moment, it doesn't matter if it was Mark Selby or No. 128 in the world. I'm still playing with zero confidence."
"But I'm working hard on my game," he added. "I'm on the practice table a lot. I'm trying to figure out how to get out of this, I call it the disease, because it feels like the method I took on has kind of ruined me."
"I've got no cue power, no sense of direction. I don't know where the balls are going. As a player, you always have some anchors to hang on to. I used to have like four or five. If one wasn't working, I'd try another one to get me going."
"At the moment, I just have nothing. I haven't for four years. It's been a nightmare. But I'm going to give it a really good go to try and cure the disease - it's easier to call it a disease - and if I can that will be great."
