Ronnie O’Sullivan Withdraws from Northern Ireland Open for Medical Reasons
Last Updated: 20/10/24 11:00pm
In a significant development in the world of professional snooker, seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has officially withdrawn from the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open due to medical concerns, as confirmed by the World Snooker Tour.
The star was set to compete against Long Zehuang in the last 64 in Belfast but will instead take a step back, allowing his opponent to advance to the last 32. The tournament, taking place at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, runs until October 27th.
This withdrawal marks O’Sullivan’s third consecutive event missed, following his absence from the British Open and the Wuhan Open in recent weeks. His last appearance on the snooker table was at the English Open last month, where he faced an unexpected first-round elimination and described his performance as “awful” and “embarrassing.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s return to competitive snooker is anticipated at the International Champions event in China from November 3-10.
Judd Trump Off to a Strong Start in Belfast
In other tournament news, World No. 1 Judd Trump kicked off his title defense with an impressive 4-0 victory over Ishpreet Singh Chadha, completing the match in just 49 minutes and showcasing breaks of 72, 65, and 112.
Trump remarked on the atmosphere at the Waterfront Hall, likening it to iconic venues where players often thrive. He will next face Matthew Selt in the last 32 after Selt’s 4-1 win over Lyu Haotian. Other notable matches include World Championship runner-up Jak Jones defeating Alexander Ursenbacher 4-0 and Northern Ireland’s Jordan Brown falling to Robert Milkins in a tightly contested 4-2 match.
As the tournament progresses, fans are eager to see how the leaderboard shapes up in the absence of one of the sport’s greatest legends, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
