Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from a highly anticipated rematch with his long-standing rival John Higgins, set to happen in Helsinki. The match was keenly awaited by snooker enthusiasts eager to see ‘The Rocket’ clash with the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ in Finland’s capital.
Sadly for fans, the exhibition event will have to be rescheduled, with O’Sullivan’s representatives issuing an apology: “We are really sorry to have to cancel the event in Helsinki this weekend. We will work with the promoters to find a date to reschedule a show when Ronnie is feeling better. We thank all his fans for their understanding.”
O’Sullivan’s decision came shortly after he pulled out of the Masters, a mere 48 hours before he was supposed to commence his battle with Higgins, opting not to defend the title he so memorably secured at Alexandra Palace the previous year. Neil Robertson stepped in to replace him and remarkably overturned a 6-1 deficit to emerge victorious against the Scotsman.
O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, last appeared at the Championship League where he faced Robert Milkins. That appearance was marred by visible frustration; he famously kicked the table and tossed his cue into the rubbish bin, raising concerns over his conduct.
Subsequently, O’Sullivan has indicated self-awareness about the incident, confessing he “lost the plot”.
Following this, he also withdrew from the upcoming German Masters starting on January 27 and may potentially take a break until the World Championships in April.
Speaking after pulling out of the Masters, ‘The Rocket’ admitted: “I’ve obviously been on this three-week trip, away playing, and I just exhausted myself. There was a lot of pressure while I was away and the build-up of all that got too much.
“I lost the plot (at the Championship League) and snapped my cue so that’s unplayable, so I just knew at that moment in time, the right decision was not to play. It’s such a big tournament I felt whoever was going to come in should at least have a couple of days’ notice.”
This article originally appeared on Daily Record
