Welsh Open 2025: What next for Ronnie O'Sullivan after snooker GOAT's latest tournament withdrawal?

ByDesmond Kane

Published 12/02/2025 at 09:05 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan is due to return to action at the World Open in the Chinese city of Yushan next week live on Eurosport and discovery+ as he bids to claim his first title of a 2024/25 season that has seen him opt out of several events. The snooker GOAT last endured a season without winning a major trophy in 2020/21, but has the chance to end his barren run with several key events on the calendar.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is due to return to action at the World Open in Yushan next week after withdrawing from the Welsh Open in Llandudno on Tuesday.

The seven-time world champion was due to meet world No. 65 Jamie Clarke in his opening match at Venue Cymru, but opted out of another ranking event as his absence from the sport continued.

O'Sullivan last played at the Championship League in Leicester in early January before smashing his cue and withdrawing from the Masters at Alexandra Palace on medical grounds ahead of his tournament opener against John Higgins.

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It has been a season in which O'Sullivan has spent more time away from competition after an impressive 2023/24 campaign that saw him win five events and earn over £1.2m in prize money.

The world No. 3 has picked up £265,600 in earnings so far with semi-final appearances at the Shanghai Masters and Xi'an Grand Prix and a quarter-final run at the Saudi Arabia Masters his best performances.

But he has also opted out of the British Open, Northern Ireland Open, Shoot Out, Scottish Open and German Masters with his focus appearing to centre around tournaments in Asia and lucrative exhibition events.

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"I’ll try and play a minimum of 10, and I’ll pick the best 10 to play in," he said.

"After that, if I feel like I need to play in a few more, I will. I still want to play snooker, but I want to spend time at home as well."

He is due to meet world No. 78 Stuart Carrington in the opening round of the World Open on Sunday February 23 at 6am live on Eurosport and discovery+ with the event running until March 1.

O'Sullivan has also qualified for the World Grand Prix in his adopted home of Hong Kong where he is due to defend the title at the Kai Tak Arena involving the top 32 on the ranking list between March 4-9.

The 41-time ranking event winner is 23rd on the one-year list, but will need a decent run at the World Open and World Grand Prix to move into the top 16 who qualify for the Players Championship between March 17-23 in Telford.

The top 12 on the one-year list then advance to the Tour Championship in Manchester between March 31-6 April before the 49th World Championship is staged by the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield between April 19-5 May.

O'Sullivan is to chase a record eighth world title victory after his title successes in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.

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