Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan abandons Masters defence on health grounds
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The defending champion has withdrawn ‘on medical grounds’ just 48 hours before the event. Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the upcoming Masters tournament at Alexandra Palace at short notice “on medical grounds”. O’Sullivan was the defending Masters champion after beating Ali Carter in the final last year and was due to face long-time rival John Higgins in the opening match of the tournament on Sunday afternoon but has pulled out just 48 hours beforehand.
![[Ronnie O’Sullivan has pulled out of the Masters at short notice]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/12/06/a249db877750990d0b1357658fd4ad71Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaGFwaSwxNzMzODI5NTEx-2.78287676.jpg)
The much-anticipated clash was set to kick off the 50th anniversary of the Masters in style, with snooker legends O’Sullivan and Higgins having enjoyed a rivalry stretching back more than three decades, since they both turned professional at the same time in 1992.
The Masters is one-third of snooker’s triple crown of biggest events – along with the UK Championship, won by Judd Trump last month, and the World Championship in April – and sees the top 16 ranked players in the world compete for a £350,000 top prize.
O’Sullivan will be replaced by two-time Masters champion Neil Robertson, who was ranked 17th at the seeding cut-off, and the Australian will now face Higgins on Sunday afternoon instead. A short statement on the World Snooker Tour website, read: “Neil Robertson has replaced Ronnie O’Sullivan in the draw for the upcoming Johnstone’s Paint Masters.
“Last year’s champion O’Sullivan was due to face John Higgins in the opening match on Sunday afternoon, but has withdrawn on medical grounds. Higgins will now face Robertson, who was ranked in 17th position at the seeding cutoff after the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.”.
