Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws just hours before his opening round match due to 'medical reasons'
- Ronnie O'Sullivan was due to compete in the Scottish Open in Edinburgh this week
- The seven-time world champion drops out due to 'medical reasons'
World No. 1 Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Scottish Open for 'medical reasons'.
O'Sullivan was due to face Liam Cameron in the opening round later today but will no longer take part in the Edinburgh event. The specific 'medical reason' for his absence has yet to be determined.
O'Sullivan's decision to withdraw from the tournament comes just over a week after he won a record eighth British Championship by beating China's Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final.
Ahead of his run to the trophy, the 48-year-old hinted he could skip the Scottish Open to focus on a lucrative event in China over the Christmas period as he looks to manage his schedule.
He said: 'I'm looking forward to a break. I think I have to watch my schedule a lot, and I think prevention is better than cure, and I don't want to get to the point where I hit a bad spot.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Scottish Open for 'medical reasons'
It is not the first tournament O'Sullivan has withdrawn from in recent weeks
His decision to retire comes just over a week after he won his eighth British Championship
'So I think for me it will be to enjoy this tournament (British Championship), then probably miss Scotland and then go to Macau for Christmas for a big event. I look forward. I want to be ready for that, it is an important event.'
The Scottish Open is the second tournament O'Sullivan has withdrawn from in the past month.
He also pulled out of defending his Champion of Champions title in November after feeling “exhausted and stressed.”
That call proved useful as he looked rejuvenated in the British Championship on his way to the title.
O'Sullivan opened up about his mental health issues in his documentary The edge of everything which followed his run to World Championship glory last year.
He has made it clear that he would like to pick his own tournaments in an attempt to extend his glittering career.
The seven-time world champion may also have one eye on snooker's next major, The Masters, which runs from January 7 to 14.