29 February 2024 , 13:54
973
0
Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from snooker's Championship League - before his group has even finished.
World No.1 O'Sullivan won his first two matches in Group Seven, beating Sam Craigie and Elliot Slessor 3-2 on each occasion. Then it went south for the 48-year-old legend, losing his next game 3-0 to Jak Jones and being beaten 3-2 by Joe O'Connor in his fourth match.
O'Sullivan, who's made a habit of pulling out of tournaments in recent times, still had two matches left to play but tournament organisers confirmed have that he has withdrawn. The Rocket's group will still be concluded on Thursday with the six remaining players at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
We're sure to see O'Sullivan soon, though, as he's still set to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Riyadh Season World Masters, a non-ranking event for the world's top eight players which starts on Monday. The tournament features a new 'golden ball' which could increase the maximum break to a whopping 167.
The three-day event will have a prize pot of $1million (£800,000) and O'Sullivan recently told Sportsboom: "When I'm out in Saudi, I'll be giving it 300 per cent."
O'Sullivan teases fellow pro Dale over his hair in awkward post-match interview
He has, however, suggested that he'll miss major tournaments in the coming years due to being "tied up" with other work. Speaking to BBC Wales, O'Sullivan was asked if he'll play at the Welsh Open in 2025 and gave a coy response.
"It depends, he replied. "It's kind of first-come-first-served with tournaments and promoters. If they definitely want me in the event, then they have to approach me and seal that deal.
"There's only so many tournaments I can play in, and the Far East and Asia is where all the big events are. I get looked after out there. If I was to play them and not do so well then I'd maybe do a few more UK events, but with all the travelling, it's hard for me to do everything. I need to have a bit more of a breather, especially as I'm getting nearer 50."
Your turn! How long should Ronnie O'Sullivan keep going for? Let us know your stance in the comments section.
Ronnie O'Sullivan will be in action during the Riyadh Season World Masters next week (Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images)During the Players Championship in Telford last week, O'Sullivan made headlines by saying: "I don't really care about my performances anymore to be honest."
O'Sullivan also revealed that he no longer plans for tournaments, claiming: "I just make it up as I go along." And following his scathing criticism of Masters final opponent Ali Carter, he added in typically enigmatic fashion: "I don't talk about other players anymore."
In another headline-grabbing comment, O'Sullivan said that he was "on strike" from hitting 147 breaks due to a lack of prize money on offer. Recently asked by Eurosport how many more he could've made, he claimed: "I reckon another five or six, but I went on strike a long time ago. Until they start bumping up the prize money [I'm on strike]."