Ronnie O’Sullivan set for new job after pulling out of another big snooker tournament to spark health fears

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN could enactment arsenic a TV pundit this week successful North Wales — aft pulling retired of a 5th lawsuit successful 3 months.

Just three-and-a-half hours earlier helium was owed to look Jamie Clarke successful the Welsh Open archetypal circular yesterday, it was announced that the Rocket, 49, would beryllium withdrawing.

Though the World Snooker Tour declined to explicate his absence, it is understood to beryllium for aesculapian reasons — a determination that has angered immoderate fans hoping to spot the legend.

O’Sullivan, a four-time Welsh Open champion, has been struggling connected and disconnected the array for a portion now.

Last month, helium snapped his cue successful fractional successful 1 of his fewer matches of 2025 — astatine a behind-closed-doors Championship League lawsuit successful Leicester.

Since losing successful the UK Championship archetypal circular connected November 23, O’Sullivan decided not to play the Shoot Out, Scottish Open, Masters, German Masters and present the Welsh Open successful Llandudno.

The satellite No 3 did look successful Saudi Arabia earlier Christmas — helium made the semi-finals successful Riyadh — but different has been disconnected UK TV screens since past autumn.

The adjacent clip helium plays is apt to beryllium the World Open, which starts connected February 23, successful Yushan, China.

The seven-time satellite champ works connected snooker events for Discovery+ and could signifier portion of their televised sum this play arsenic players pursuit the Ray Reardon Trophy.

The aforesaid concern happened erstwhile helium withdrew from the Masters astatine Ally Pally past period and past went into the workplace a fewer days later.

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Discussions are ongoing astir a imaginable quality but nary determination has been made yet.

Clarke, 30, has received a bye into the past 32 and this volition boost his presumption connected the satellite rankings list.

Snooker prima Dominic Dale, who retired astatine the extremity of the season, said: “I’m a small spot surprised. If Ronnie withdraws from an event, it’s usually a mates of days earlier an lawsuit begins.

“To propulsion retired connected the eve of this match, I was a spot surprised, peculiarly arsenic the satellite title is coming circular the country successful a mates of months.

“It would person been bully signifier for Ronnie. He broke his cue a period ago. Maybe helium has cue issues arsenic well.”

Clarke, the satellite No 65, said: “Yeah, I was relishing playing him (O’Sullivan).

“There was 20 per cent a small spot disappointment erstwhile I got the phonecall this morning.

“Because he’s coming towards the extremity of his career. You don’t get galore chances to play Ronnie.

“He picks and chooses his events and rightly so. I was astir apt much blessed than not happy, but it would person been bully to play him.”