Protecting champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Masters on clinical grounds.
O’Sullivan, 49, was once aiming to win a record-extending 9th identify, and have been set to stand John Higgins in a blockbuster opening to the match at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.
The Englishman’s position within the invitational tournament for the 16 highest-ranked avid gamers on this planet shall be taken through Neil Robertson.
Like Higgins, the Australian is a two-time winner of the Masters and maximum just lately triumphed in 2022 and was once ranked seventeenth on the seeding cutoff in December.
O’Sullivan has received 41 score occasions and 7 global titles all through a storied profession since turning skilled in 1992 and claimed his first Masters crown in 1995 on the age of nineteen.
His good fortune one year in the past, elderly 48, intended that he become each the oldest and youngest-ever winner of the second one Triple Crown tournament of the season.
He additionally elected to omit the Masters in 2020. This week, he pulled out of the Championship League prior to his ultimate crew recreation on Thursday after turning into pissed off along with his personal efficiency in a 3-2 loss to Robert Milkins.
‘The Rocket’ performed 4 fits on Wednesday, shedding 3 of them and whacked his cue in opposition to the desk after lacking a very simple purple in opposition to Milkins.
Whilst he temporarily apologised to the referee and his opponent, there have been experiences from Leicester, exterior that he later threw his cue right into a bin prior to it was once retrieved.
Each spherical of the Masters, which runs from 12-19 January, shall be proven continue to exist BBC TV. You’re going to additionally be capable to watch uninterrupted protection on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Game website online and the BBC Game cell app, with further protection on BBC Pink Button.
