2.9.10

O'SULLIVAN OUT OF SHANGHAI MASTERS

Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from next week's Shanghai Masters.

The reigning champion notified World Snooker of his decision today. He also withdrew from the Paul Hunter Classic last weekend. I understand he is blaming a back injury for both withdrawals.

I'm not a doctor and even if I was I haven't examined O'Sullivan so I make no comment on this excuse, except to say his decision will obviously disappoint his many fans in China and those who had been planning to watch him on TV.

It is the third time he has withdrawn from a ranking event in China. He also pulled out of the 2008 Bahrain Championship.

However, O'Sullivan will play in tonight's Premier League in Southampton, which regardless of the actual facts is going to appear somewhat odd.

EDIT: For some reason the story announcing this news on worldsnooker.com has been removed.

42 comments:

Janie said...

well what a surprise!!!

Anonymous said...

Great ambassador for the sport. I'm sure his injury will stop him playing in the Premier League tonight.

Anonymous said...

Two best players in the world. One is not allowed play and the other doesn't want to. You wouldn't see it in Monty Python.

Anonymous said...

Irony is they haven't put him on the poster for years in case he withdrew. This year he's on and then he pulls out.

So much for Hearn's 'standard bearer'

Anonymous said...

Is it the case that Ronnie thinks he's bigger than the game itself - he can do anything he wants - don't you know!

Anonymous said...

O'Sullivan withdraw from an overseas ranking event? Say it isn't so!

Alpha

Anonymous said...

Hi Dave,

O'Sullivan made a 147 on Monday in an exhibition match v Jimmy White.

That is all.

Nothing unusual for Ronnie. We've said time-and-time again - Ronnie doesn't and isn't a good traveller.

But I remember the tournament in Dubai in 2008 which clashed with a Premier League fixture. Players had to pull out, but Steve Davis didn't turn up - he was playing in the celebrity darts tournament prior to the Grand Slam Championship on ITV4. Did he have a doctor's note?

RE: Higgins Documentary. Yates did look v.thin and is that really Clive's office? what was all the paperwork behind him?

Thanks, Joe

Noel said...

Janie, Anonymouses 1, 2, 3, 4.
Two Questions...

1. Do you people KNOW what back pain is really like?

2.Do you know what the definition of "Ignoranuses" is?


1. It can be excruciatingly painful, immobilizing. It is something, once experienced, you would never wish on your worst ignoranuses.

2... look in the mirror.

Ramona Dragomir said...

What`s very interesting is that the worldsnooker.com`s article, the one which stated that Ronnie has pulled off from the Shanghai Masters has miraculously disappeard...

Anonymous said...

6.09, Im not quite sure what an ignoranus is. I can imagine it must be something to do with an intellectually challenged back passage. Then again, its not for an ignoramus like me to speculate.........

CHRISK5 said...

Proves my point - As both the
Global & Pro Snooker ranking lists
foolishly gave players their
starter pts - even before they had
turned up to the said event.

Starter pts for ranking events should only be counted when the
player has either (a) turned up
or (b) got beaten.

Adding points to the list in advance is asking for trouble...

I am glad Ronnie pulled out,just to
highlight this.

Dave H said...

It's not highlighting anything. If Ronnie has a doctor's note he will get the minimum points he was given on the lists you mention.

Anonymous said...

CHRISK. Stop embarassing yourself. We're all sick of you.

CHRISK5 said...

If a player pullsout of an event -
even with a doctors note,they
should only get a percentage of
their minimum points,not all of them.

Some players will go to Shanghai,
play 8 or 9 frames,but possibly lose their 1st round match &
still get the same tariff as
Ronnie - not unfair,just absurd.

That's one rule which should change

Anonymous said...

Yes CHRIS. Your right and everyone else is wrong. If only they'd listen to you.... The fools... They're all mad.

Anonymous said...

the guy is a complete waste of space!

excellent at snooker. nightmare.....

Anonymous said...

the sooner mike hallet realises what a cross double IS NOT, i can die happy.

Anonymous said...

What a sham with RoS. This would never have been allowed to happen if Rodney Walker was still in charge.

James Scott said...

I'm led to believe that Ronnie's father is due out of prison next week prior to being released next year.

Maybe coincidence, eh!

CHRISK5 said...

James Scott - If that's true,
I would be very happy for Ronnie,
if he himself admits that's the real reason for his Shanghai absense - then fair play.

But,appearing in the P.L & then producing a doctors note for
no showing Shanghai would be
an unneccessary farce.

If Ronnie seeing his old man is the
real reason - his absense would be
seen as credible & totally understandable - but,inventing
some injury diversion tactic
is a big no-no & would backfire.

If he said he was staying at home
to study the Power Snooker format..
we would all have understood !
(really)

Janie said...

Noel - I certainly know what extreme back pain is. I suffer from it and swallow tons of anti-inflammatory drugs every day.

Right now it's ten times worse than usual because of humping stuff around for my house move.

I would like to sit on a plane for more than an hour right now nor drive the car any distance.

But this does just seem to much of a coincidence. But then I am old and cynical!

Anonymous said...

James. Ronnie's dad has been out several times now on "day" or weekend" release.

He's been to Sheffield when Ronnie's been playing and enjoyed some time on Ronnie's houseboat, with Ronnie doing the cooking.

Anonymous said...

of course there will be many ROS
fans who say its perfectly possible for him to play but its the travel on a plane that will make his back pain much worse.

and that would be a fitting explanation if it werent one that rushes out all too often, or one of those that comes out as excuse for not going to the oriental places.....

guys a joke IMHO

Anonymous said...

and just as i type my last comment ronnie makes a "masturbation" gesture at his lack of kiss on a red....but then changes it (after realising....)

as i said, guys a joke!

Dave H said...

I'm told now that it's nothing to with his back.

Strange business, this. I will try and find out more and report back...

Anonymous said...

thing is dave, no matter what it is, it still makes the ones with common sense and not blind fans wonder how many coincidences there can be that make him not fo east.....

CHRISK5 said...

I suppose Ronnie use to tell the
school teacher that the dog ate his homework !!

Can he still attain minimum starter
points WITHOUT the doctors note ?

I think James Scott's 'revelation'
has prompted the swift U-Turn.

Anonymous said...

james' post wasnt a revelation
his dads been out several times in accordance with what happens prior to full release....

dave, while youre finding out, could you ask if RON was playing air guitar or making rude gestures earlier on live tv? ;)

James Scott said...

I've not seen the snooker tonight, but if Ronnie is being a knob then he should hang his head in utter shame.

I know from a market trader at Romford Market that is Old Man is on a release from the nick next week.

To belittle paying punters by giving w-anchor signs isn't on.

snookerplayer said...

He clearly hasn't got a bad back the way he was switching between left and right handed shots and skipping around the table, nothing wrong with him at all....

Anonymous said...

Chrisk, I Think you like the attention and deliberately post absurd comments. Nobody could be that thick. So if a player falls ill in the middle of a tournament where he is guaranteed points, he should have his points reduced, but if he sits in the arena and concedes every frame he gets full points? Don.t bother replying, Im not interested, brain of britain.

Anonymous said...

prem league would be a great showcase for the tv season opener if it wasnt for the constant wittering of Hallett.
"pink in the middle, or corner, stun across for the red. Cross double maybe, Urrrggh(orgasm sound) great shot, should be game over now(with 13 reds left)."
And this all night. would someone tell him hes not playing and stop indulging himself. we can see the table and might want to work out the shot ourselves. hes not commenting for radio. poor Clive couldn,t get a word in edgeways.

Anonymous said...

Why do all the Ronnie haters keep having a go at him for pulling out??? You should all be clapping like seals for him, but of course its Ronnie's this Ronnie's that make your mind up folks....

CHRISK5 said...

Dave - Did the players who missed
Bahrain 2008 & played in the PL,
did they get minimum points ?

Snookerplayer - With a geniune bad back,you would either miss the
PL match completely or be taking
30-60 seconds per shot.

Not 20 secs per shot,switching
left & right & by all accounts,
seem in a pretty chirpy mood
with energetic gestures & all.

If Ronnie or his associates had told the truth to begin with...
all the ridicule & innuendo could have been avoided.

I admire James Scott's openess,
he's done everyone a big favour.

Dave H said...

Steve Davis got his points because he entered the tournament and then withdrew. The others didn't, although O'Sullivan - who wasn't affected by the League - received his points after withdrawing.

The irony of course is that he will now have these points deducted when the rankings are revised whereas the others have nothing to lose.

Anonymous said...

Actually brain of britain its 25 second's a shot.

Anonymous said...

There is no excuse for Ronnie. He didn't want to be in China for a week. He couldn't be bothered.

Anonymous said...

no excuse for making rude gestures on live tv and in front of many young fans. he disgusts me!

Anonymous said...

Ronnie doesn't need an excuse. Hes the biggest draw in snooker ever and is already a wealthy man. Snooker should have more respect for him.
If it was America we'd all be bowing at his feet instead of constantly bitching and sniping every time he farts.
Hes dead right to pick and choose when he plays. Why should he listen to a bunch of sad "comic book guys" on blogs looking down their noses at the genius?
Be grateful. The day hes gone you can have your selbys and maguires boring you to death. snooker will be nothing without him.
He has earned the right to do as he pleases. You moaners are not worthy.

Anonymous said...

I completely disagree with you. No-one is bigger than the sport!

Noel said...

"Anonymous said...
I completely disagree with you. No-one is bigger than the sport!"

I don't care if you are Stephen Hawking... DON'T talk about my Father that way!

Anonymous said...

noel, youre not funny.

and snooker treats ron like a baby, and to some, he acts and says things a young child does