Ronnie O'Sullivan admits he is unlikely to participate in 2026 Masters as record eight-time champion cuts back on snooker schedule
ByTNT UK
Updated 01/10/2025 at 08:44 GMT+1
Ronnie O'Sullivan revealed he is unlikely to play in the Masters at Alexandra Palace in January - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ - citing the amount of travel involved from Dubai. But the 49-year-old does have other targets. O'Sullivan recently withdrew from the British Open due to medical reasons, and the seven-time world snooker champion admits he is cutting back on his schedule.
McManus explains how O'Sullivan can enjoy 'some success' this season
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he is unlikely to feature at next year's Masters as he looks to scale back on his schedule.
The announcement comes after the seven-time world champion pulled out of last week's British Open due to medical reasons.
O'Sullivan was in line to face Sanderson Lam, but was replaced in the event by Daniel Womersley.
Fresh questions have now been raised over his future participation at major events.
O'Sullivan, who turns 50 in December, has not played since the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, and he is already looking ahead to life after his playing days, acknowledging that he's coming to the end of his career.
Speaking to talkSPORT on Tuesday, the "Rocket" revealed he is unlikely to have a presence at January's showpiece Masters tournament at Alexandra Palace, which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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Watch: 'Oh my word!' - Top 5 flukes from Saudi Arabia Masters
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"I probably won't play the Masters this year," O'Sullivan said.
"I moved to Dubai, a lot of my work is in China and the Middle East so it made sense to be near. The jet lag was crucifying. It's not that easy to just get on a plane and come back to the UK.
"I think I'm just going to play the UK Championship, hopefully the Tour Championship if I've done enough, which I think I have because I did well in Saudi.
"Then the World Championship. It would be nice to win that one more time before I snap another cue."
O'Sullivan's withdrawal from the British Open means that he didn't take home a share of the £502,000 prize pot, but he has reached a point in his career where listening to his body must come first.
O'Sullivan is the youngest and oldest winner of the Masters, the sport's oldest invitational event, but was unhappy with the conditions at the Alexandra Palace in London during his run to the 2024 final and a bad-natured 10-7 win over fellow Essex player Ali Carter that saw him land a record-extending eighth title since 1995.
The world No. 4 also opted out of the Masters last season after smashing his cue at the Championship League in January, days before he was due to meet fellow 'Class of '92' icon John Higgins in the tournament opener.
O'Sullivan made history when he last won the World Championship in 2022, becoming the oldest champion of the global crown.
Zhao Xintong's triumph this year, to some, felt like the changing of the guard with the 28-year-old beating O'Sullivan in the semi-finals before seeing off Mark Williams in the final.
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O'Sullivan just wanted to 'win couple of matches' in Saudi Arabia
Video credit: TNT Sports
O'Sullivan has previously admitted he thought he would retire at 35, but while he is not done yet, the snooker icon accepts he will have to be at his very best at the Crucible in order to secure the crown for an eighth time.
"I've never been driven by titles," he claimed before adding: "Listen, I'll take one.
"That makes sense to make that [the World Championship] the main focus. Which I probably will. In the back of my mind, I'm like, 'OK, let's just get ready for Sheffield for the next three years'.
"Whatever happens in between, it's not really that important other than to just enjoy it, try and nick a couple of tournaments if I can.
"But obviously Sheffield is a different beast. It's not an easy place to play. Longer frames, it suits my style of play.
"I sort of plod along, which you need to at Sheffield. There's no point being great one minute and then terrible the next.
"I'm pretty good at plodding along and that usually gets the job done at the World Championship."
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the 2026 Masters, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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