Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the upcoming German Masters in January after a hiatus of nine years from the tournament. The renowned snooker player, also known as “The Rocket,” has not participated in the main stages of the event since 2017 but is now included in the draw competing for the £550,000 prize.
Having refrained from entering or withdrawing from the tournament since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan attempted to qualify for the 2022 event but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in Cannock, preventing him from advancing to Germany.
In the upcoming German Masters, the 50-year-old O’Sullivan, seeded among the top 16 players, will face Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang in his opening match. The draw, available on the German Masters’ website, features all top players except Ding Junhui.
Scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the tournament will witness Kyren Wilson defending his title after a thrilling victory over Barry Hawkins in the previous edition. Notable contenders like Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, and others are also part of the draw.
O’Sullivan, known for his sporadic withdrawals from events, has faced criticism for pulling out of tournaments at the last minute due to health reasons. In 2025, he withdrew from several events, including the German Masters, citing mental health prioritization.
Ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan relocated from Essex to Dubai in November following his marriage to Laila Rouass. The snooker legend explained the challenges of managing jet lag due to his frequent work in the Middle East and China.
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