Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the International Championship, which starts on Sunday in China, for medical reasons.
O’Sullivan was due to face either Michael White or Lu Haotian on Monday evening at the world ranking event in Chengdu. The winner of that match will now receive a bye to the last 16.
WPBSA Chairman Jason Ferguson said: “We have been made aware that Ronnie has been unwell. The usual process for players pulling out of tournaments will now be applied.
“This is a huge disappointment for all of the fans in China who were hoping to see him play. However there is still an outstanding line-up of the world’s best players at the International Championship and it will be a top class event.”
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Claus
October 26, 2012 at 6:15 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
That ridiculous wild card just got even sweeter for Lu ‘The Croatian’ Hoatian.
Paddy 800
October 26, 2012 at 6:48 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I guarantee he plays in the uk championship… The lack of respect ronnie has for world snooker is gone beyond a joke now. He is just toying with the sport and the fans. Another big event and ronnie just doesn’t bother to support it… He is a genius on the snooker table no question but this carry on has to stop.. I for one am not buying this illness excuse.. He played in the legends last night and I believe played in the five nights before that.. I have been a snooker fan since the early eighties and have seen many changes in the game since then but I believe this recent surge of new events and the way china and Europe have come into the mix is great for the game … But …… Ronnie is the world champion and he is missing (AWOL) and in my opinion this is unexceptable … Why does he continue to play in this Mickey Mouse legends tour (well don’t answer that) the answer is obivous … Anyway it just baffles me to think he won the world title in may this year and so far he has played one match on the main tour and still says he is suffering from illness even though he continues to have his own personal match with the whirlwind in a number of different venues across the country … Can anyone tell me the score?????? Or does anyone care…. Personally … I can’t wait till April comes around again when I hope this great game gets a new world champion that will support the new events and act like an ambassador and not play meanless exhibitions around country that frankly no one cares about…..
Kevin
October 26, 2012 at 7:33 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
The new money ranking system makes it easy for him. Win the World Championship and the rest don’t matter.
A poorly thought out idea from World Snooker.
Then again if you turn up for every event and your face doesn’t fit you’re heading for a suspension. So at least Ronnie has done the honourable thing and quit without turning up and not trying.
He will need to attend the qualifiers now – that will be fun.
CueTracker
October 27, 2012 at 7:04 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
He won’t need to qualify. He’s seeded 2nd by virtue of being the World Champion.
Kevin
October 27, 2012 at 11:55 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Good spot! No wonder he isn’t bothering to travel
Daniel
October 26, 2012 at 7:40 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Its because he is in I’m a Celebrity get me out of Here…………..
zabaks
October 27, 2012 at 10:02 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Funny, Eurosport keeps rolling commercial about IC, and there is the line “World Champion returns to action”
Claus
October 27, 2012 at 2:47 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I really enjoy and look forward to seeing Ronnie play every time but this time I’m not as disappointed. He finally managed to turn himself in to a joke. We expect nothing from him at this point apart from a good chuckle at his expense for entering and withdrawing for no reason.
He will never be a Hendry, that’s for sure.
Andre
October 28, 2012 at 2:08 am (UTC 0) Link to this comment
But no one is saying he will ever be a Hendry, because Stephen is unique… in terms of natural ability and the excitment he creates, Ronnie is unique too… but this sort of withdrawals for no reason really disappoint his fans, like me… he did say it was because of medical orders, but he always has that excuse when travelling abroad… and he is playing regularly in Legends events with Jimmy, just like last night, so no excuses really…
Like I’ve been saying on Snooker Island forum, he cant really rely ONLY on UK events, because otherwise he will free fall in the rankings, even with a money system and even being World Champion… and there will be more and more events in China and of course mainland Europe, so is it time for Ronnie to REALLY say goodbye from the game? as much as I would hate that, I think it will be a fair decision if he continues to withdraw from most events…
Andy
October 28, 2012 at 7:42 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
ROS is a snooker genius, but the sooner he quits snooker for good the better. Beyond a joke!