Ronnie O'Sullivan Withdraws from Masters Due to Exhaustion

Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from the Masters due to exhaustion and frustration, admitting to losing his cool after a cue-snapping incident.

Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed that he was feeling exhausted and overwhelmed in the build-up to The Masters, which ultimately led to his withdrawal from the prestigious tournament. O'Sullivan, 47, admitted that it was a “nightmare decision” to pull out of the event, citing the cumulative effects of a gruelling schedule and a recent emotional outburst that saw him snap his cue.

O'Sullivan was scheduled to face John Higgins in the first round at Alexandra Palace, but withdrew on medical grounds just two days before the tournament began. Reflecting on his decision, O'Sullivan told Eurosport, “If you'd have asked me Sunday was I ready to play, I probably would have been OK, but it's such a massive tournament.” He acknowledged that the pressure and expectations surrounding The Masters had taken a toll on him.

O'Sullivan explained that his exhaustion was the result of a three-week trip away from home, during which he had been competing in various tournaments. He said, “I've obviously been on this three-week trip away playing and I just think I exhausted myself. A lot of pressure while I was away, and I just think the build-up of all that kind of just got a bit too much, really.” O'Sullivan's withdrawal from The Masters marks a disappointing start to the year for the snooker legend.

Ronnie O'Sullivan's withdrawal from the Masters comes amidst a challenging season for the snooker legend, who has struggled to find consistency and suffered a series of surprise defeats. His recent performances have been inconsistent, including early exits at the UK Championship and the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship. O'Sullivan's frustration boiled over during the Championship League last week in Leicester, where he snapped his cue in anger following a defeat to Robert Milkins.

O'Sullivan admitted that the incident and his overall exhaustion ultimately led to his decision to withdraw from the Masters. “I lost the plot on Thursday, snapped my cue, so that's unplayable,” he said. “I knew that at that moment in time, the right decision was to not play. And it’s such a big tournament, I thought whoever was going to come in should have at least had a couple of days' notice.” This decision allowed Neil Robertson to take O'Sullivan's place in the tournament, and Robertson went on to stage a remarkable comeback against John Higgins in the first round.

Despite the setback, O'Sullivan remains optimistic about his future in the sport. He expressed his desire to return to the Masters and compete for the title once again. “This is an unbelievable tournament,” he said. “Top 16 best players in the world, amazing crowd. You know, I’ve won this tournament many times, like 14 finals. I'd love to come here and play again and hopefully be lucky enough to win the trophy again. That'd be great.” O'Sullivan's enthusiasm for the tournament is evident, and fans will be hoping to see him return to form and compete at the highest level once again.