Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from next week’s Shanghai Masters, the first ranking tournament of the new season.
In a statement on his official website, http://www.ronnieosullivan.biz/, the world no.5 was said to have injured his back.
The statement added: “Ronnie has been advised by his doctor not to travel and that bending over a table will cause more damage.
“The injury is not serious, however he does need to rest and not risk making it worse.
“He apologises to his fans and to all those who were looking forward to seeing him perform.”
O’Sullivan, 31, previously withdrew from the 2005 China Open in Beijing with an undisclosed medical complaint.
13 comments:
Typical ROS, he can never be bothered with these tournaments. Don't buy his story for a second.
In Ronnie's defence, he has a doctor's note to say he has injured his back.
It's good to see the fine Ronnie received has made him change his ways!
DJ
Dave,
I had new found faith that O'Sullivan was beginning to take the overseas trips more seriously - but seeing as his 'doctor' has vouched for a bad back, its another blow for promoting the game.
Since Ding has come along, he seems to have found a connection with trying to make more of an effort - see the pre-season jolly in Asia.
He doesn't like playing these venues - past performances not just in China, Malta as well - testify to this. But at least he is there. At least theres 2 this year and hope he makes the Open.
Thanks for the post about Clive. I am horrified by what you said. Did the press and assorted media ever think of walking out during that season in protest with the action against Clive?
Thanks, Joe
Did he use this excuse for malta once or was that china...If his doctor had said Ronnie had a mental problem I would have been more inclined to believe it...Gone or the day when players with broken bones in their feet hop around the table still playing for they did not want to let their fans down...Long live A Higgins a true people's champion
Joe - the action taken was that the sponsors' names would not be used in any stories, which eventually led Embassy to take matters into their own hands.
As for Ronnie, I'd like to repeat that I have no evidence that the official reason given for his withdrawal is untrue
However, I wll say this: the best tournament I've ever been to was the 2005 China Open in Beijing, in which the Chinese snooker boom palpably took off as Ding Junhui fought through to the final where he beat the game's greatest ever player, Stephen Hendry.
Ronnie O'Sullivan wasn't in the tournament and it didn't make the slighest difference to the success of it.
Does anyone think Mark Williams can make any kind of comeback to form soon, maybe starting in China this week?
He must be in real danger of dropping out of the top 16 this year if he doesn't at least make a couple of semi-finals, and I somehow can't see him as the type to battle through the qualifiers.
I just think it's a bit of a shame because he was one of those players who had an aura of invincibility about them four or five years ago, and now he doesn't even seem capable of competing.
Any thoughts?
If he wants to he can turn up and win everything. When Mark Williams wants to be bothered to practice properly again then he'll be back to wooop arse just like John Higgins is doing now.
I'm not so sure I think he is trying as hard as he can at the moment and just doesn't seem to be able to do it. But the great thing is that he knows he has it in him so things can come right again.
He is more interested in beating Hendry at golf. He has won the world twice and will make it three when ever he decides to dedicate himself again...
I'm not sure there will be another Williams comeback - there are an awful lot of good players around, and he seems to throw in the towel when things don't go his way. Like a lot of players, I think a bit of success was enough for him. He doesn't have a real killer instinct that makes him need to win every time he plays. It was good when it meant he had a happy-go-lucky attitude when he played, but bad because it allowed him to play badly if he wasn't in the mood to practise.
Family comes first sometimes...Mark is the best player ever, he was untoucable and he will be again. He has great mental strength, to go with his potting ability, and a few years ago he was unstoppable, better all round than the rocket for sure who has all the mental strength of a peanut. Come on Mark pull your finger out...let the wife change the nappies
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