Ronnie O’Sullivan, the top-ranked snooker player, has decided to pull out of the upcoming Welsh Open in Llandudno citing anxiety issues. Despite enjoying a successful season with wins at prestigious tournaments like the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Grand Prix, his achievements have been overshadowed by ongoing health challenges. This pattern of withdrawal from several lower-tier ranking events underscores the seriousness of his situation.
O’Sullivan wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Morning guys, I wanted to let you know that I’ve decided I’m not able to play in Llandudno next week.
“It’s hard to explain but for years I’ve suffered from stage fright at times, brought on by anxiety. It’s not something I can predict or control but I try to manage it as best as I can.
“I’m sorry to everyone who’s bought tickets but I just can’t get my cue out when I feel like this and I think this is what’s best for me right now.
“I still want to be around the tournament so I’ll be doing some work with Eurosport and I hope to see you all there.”
The Welsh Open marks the seventh ranking tournament this season where Ronnie O’Sullivan has opted out of participation, joining the likes of the Champion of Champions event in Bolton back in November. His decision to withdraw from the German Masters in January underscored his prioritization of “health and wellbeing” despite his consistent triumphs at the snooker table. Alongside his remarkable success, O’Sullivan’s actions have drawn scrutiny from the sport’s governing body. He faced investigation for remarks made regarding unsanctioned exhibition matches and also for a highly charged outburst directed at rival Ali Carter following his Masters final victory in January, characterized by expletive-laden criticism dubbing Carter as “a f****** nightmare”. These incidents have added a layer of controversy to O’Sullivan’s season, highlighting both his on-table brilliance and off-table challenges.
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