Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out of third successive tournament as he withdraws from Northern Ireland Open at last minute

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has pulled retired of the Northern Ireland Open.

The seven-time satellite champion made the determination owed to aesculapian reasons.

The Belfast lawsuit started yesterday.

But O'Sullivan's withdrawal marks the 3rd consecutive tourney helium has missed retired on.

It comes aft helium sat retired the British Open and the Wuhan Open.

The World Snooker Tour confirmed the quality connected Sunday.

As a effect of the withdrawal, his first-round opponent, Long Zehuang, was handed a bye into the circular of 32.

The Rocket had mislaid 3 erstwhile Northern Ireland Open finals to Judd Trump betwixt 2018 and 2020.

O'Sullivan had besides withdrawn from past year's lawsuit owed to aesculapian reasons.

The satellite No5 has not played competitively since being knocked retired of the archetypal circular of the English Open connected 17 September - which saw him harshly marque himself "useless" and "embarrassing".

O'Sullivan has hinted astatine status respective times this year.

He precocious announced a caller broadside hustle by opening a snooker academy successful Saudi Arabia.

O'Sullivan besides revealed however helium would person pursued a vocation successful motorsport if helium ne'er pursued a vocation successful snooker.

You tin find each the latest updates connected the Northern Ireland Open by speechmaking SunSport's snooker blog HERE.