Following yesterday’s “will he, won’t he” withdraw saga, defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has today confirmed that he will not be returning to China in 2010, although not because of any problems with his back, instead citing personal problems…
As stated by O’Sullivan over at World Snooker:
“This has been a very difficult decision to make, however I have a very young family and at this moment I need to spend more time with them. I’m truly sorry to my fans in China, I love meeting and playing in front of some of the most passionate people in the world. I very much look forward to returning to China soon.”
What this means is that the winner of the tie between Jamie Burnett and Tian Pengfei will now move straight into the round of last 16.
Whether or not he will receive his minimum ranking points for the event is at this stage unclear. My personal view is that as he has not been forced out of the event on medical grounds, he should not and therefore I will adjust his points to 0 for the event on my provisional rankings. Should these be restored at a later date however I will add them back on…
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6 comments
Monique says:
September 4, 2010 at 6:40 am (UTC 0 )
Regarding the ranking points, I’m not expecting him to get any neither. However I suppose It would depend of the real reasons behind the withdrawal, reasons that might never been disclosed publicly. Ronnie, like anyone, is entitled his privacy.
Not specifically about this case, but in general, I think there are private circumstances that would justify the award of the points even if the withdrawal happens before the tournament starts and the reasons are private. I’m thinking about circumstances like sudden serious illness or accident affecting a close relative, birth of a child, death in close family … actually all those circumstances where you would be entitled a leave in any regular job.
matt2745 says:
September 4, 2010 at 8:52 am (UTC 0 )
Personally I’ve always been in something of a minority when it comes to ranking points for absent players, I don’t really think that they should get them even if they do have a medical reason. Dott for example getting them a couple of years ago when he broke his wrist was something that I didn’t agree with.
Shawerr says:
September 4, 2010 at 9:03 am (UTC 0 )
As to Dott’s case, if he needed points so badly and WS would not have given him any if he was absent, he could have turned up with his broken arm, lost 0-5 and got the points.
Monique says:
September 4, 2010 at 9:05 am (UTC 0 )
Well that’s of course one point of view and it is debatable.
But my point is more about this: as it is, points are awarded currently if the players withdraws because of sickness or injury and, that being the case, I think there are other circumstances that would justify for them to be awarded also.
Maja says:
September 4, 2010 at 10:39 am (UTC 0 )
The rule for awarding ranking points should remain very tight. Imagine there come more and more players with private reasons for withdrawls and the round of the last 32 shrinks to last 20 or so.
Snookerfan4711 says:
September 4, 2010 at 3:27 pm (UTC 0 )
tricky. I don’t ewant to be the one how defines when to give starting points, and when not to. But luckily it’s not my decision to make. I’m just some fan who dares to speak her mind now and again. In this case I think it was good that Ronnie told us in which direction the problem is and didn’t hang on to the back injurie – story. And if even Barry Hearn says that he understands the reasons, a man who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, it is more then enough for me to accept it. After all: Who wants a bad mooded Ronnie in Shanghai who hates to be there and crashes out after a not – inspired firs round performance. Let him stay at home and work his problems out. But same must be possible for all the players…