Contemplating Retirement from Unibet British Open: Potential End to Snooker Journey for Seven-time World Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan, 48, stunned everyone at the first day of the Unibet British Open by dropping out of the competition just hours before his match against Manasawin Phetmalaikul, 25. O'Sullivan, struggling with his recent performances, has sparked concerns among fans and experts that this might be his final season as a professional snooker player.
O’Sullivan Pulls Out at the Last Minute
The Unibet British Open kicked off yesterday, with the top 16 players in the world rankings playing their initial matches in front of a live audience in Cheltenham. Ronnie O’Sullivan was set to take on Manasawin Phetmalaikul at 20:00. However, at approximately 14:00, attendees noticed that O’Sullivan's name had been substituted by Lewis Ullah, 22, on the tournament schedule.
Following this, the WST issued an official statement:
Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Unibet British Open, which began today in Cheltenham. He was slated to face Manasawin Phetmalaikul at 19:00 on Monday. O’Sullivan has been replaced by Lewis Ullah, the highest-ranked player available from the 2024 Q School list. The tournament is taking place at the Centaur Arena on the Cheltenham Racecourse and will conclude on September 29.– WST
Unfortunately, many of O’Sullivan's supporters were already in attendance at the venue. To this date, The Rocket has remained silent regarding the reasons behind his sudden withdrawal. However, the British newspaper Mirror reported late in the afternoon the previous day that it was due to undisclosed medical reasons [Link in English].
This isn't the first time O’Sullivan has withdrawn from a tournament at short notice. Last season, he missed several tournaments, explanation being mental challenges. Since the start of the 2023/2024 season, he has withdrawn from a total of eight tournaments held in the UK.
O’Sullivan’s Harsh Self-Criticism After the English Open
The past few months have been challenging for O’Sullivan on a sporting level. Despite winning five titles last season, he seems to still be on the hunt for his form in the current season.
At the Shanghai Masters, he suffered a heavy defeat to Judd Trump, 35, with a score of 3:10 and was eliminated in the semi-finals. He also reached the semi-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix but lost 4:5 to Kyren Wilson, 32. At the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, he failed to show his best performance and was eliminated in the quarter-finals with a score of 6:4 against Si Jiahui, 22.
Last week, O’Sullivan suffered a humiliating defeat: In the first round of the English Open, he lost to He Guoqiang, 24, with a score of 2:4. After the match, he was self-critical and questioned his entire skill set:
I’m terrible, it’s embarrassing. I’m missing so many balls. I don’t have much time, I won’t deny it. I’m not playing well enough, and it doesn’t make sense to think about it – I’ve just accepted it, and that’s really a nice place to be.– Ronnie O’Sullivan, Snooker Player, Eurosport
O’Sullivan admitted that he only participates in the tournaments to meet his obligations to his sponsors, to escape the comfort of his home, and to travel.
The seven-time world champion is notorious for being extremely ambitious and self-critical. In the past, he has even criticized his own game after winning tournaments and performing well.
Withdrawal from tournament due to personal issues?
Ronnie O’Sullivan is currently grappling with not only sporting struggles but also personal problems. Last week, the British newspaper The Sun reported that O’Sullivan and his long-term partner, Laila Rouass, 53 [Link in English], had split up.
The couple had been together since 2012 and were engaged since 2013. Just a few weeks ago, Rouass, who works as an actress, was spotted without her engagement ring. Friends of the couple have now confirmed that O’Sullivan and Rouass have indeed separated. Neither of them has addressed the rumors yet.
O’Sullivan’s Amusing Remarks About Retirement
In recent months, Ronnie O’Sullivan has frequently spoken about potential retirement. Yet, his statements regarding this subject have been inconsistent.
Last season, O’Sullivan expressed his desire to continue playing snooker even at the age of 50 [Link in English]. At that time, he was confident he could still win titles at that age. Additionally, O’Sullivan has ongoing contracts with sponsors that bind him to participate in certain tournaments.
In April this year, he also signed a three-year contract with the Saudi Arabian Snooker Federation [Link in English]. This contract obligates him to promote snooker in Saudi Arabia. The specifics of the contract have not been disclosed.
Check out this post on Instagram [Link in English]
Translation: I am overjoyed to announce that I will be establishing an academy in Riyadh and serving as an ambassador for snooker in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assist in promoting and developing the sport. I have given my all to the sport of snooker, and I am grateful to be given an opportunity to give something back and contribute to the growth of the sport in new markets around the world.
Had an awesome time at the initial Riyadh Season World Masters at the start of the year, impressed by their dedication towards the sport and its future. Keen to be back for the next event and potentially grab the golden trophy, number 167.
His recent utterances, however, indicate an early departure. A few months back, O’Sullivan mentioned his interest in playing Chinese 8 Ball Pool post his snooker career [Link in English]. The idea of contesting in the pool world championship intrigues him due to the challenge. His ultimate aim is to claim the title as the world's finest pool player.
Will O’Sullivan Join the Wuhan Open?
Ronnie O’Sullivan hasn't shared his career plans directly yet. The ensuing tournament with his participation planned is the Wuhan Open. The competition commences on October 6 in Wuhan, China. Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to face Mitchell Mann, 32, in the first round of this tournament.
O’Sullivan has openly expressed his appreciation for his visits to China and his fondness for playing snooker there in the past. Consequently, we'll have to wait and see if he opts out of this tournament or decides to travel to China in October.
After the announcement of O'Sullivan's withdrawal, many fans were eager to find out the reasons. According to a British newspaper, the withdrawal was due to undisclosed medical reasons. With the Unibet British Open news swirling, the upcoming Wuhan Open became a topic of interest for fans, as O'Sullivan's participation in the tournament has yet to be confirmed.
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