Why isn’t Ronnie O’Sullivan playing at the Masters 2025?
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN will NOT be defending his Masters crown this week.
The Rocket, 49, pulled out of the Triple Crown just two days before he was due to play in the first match of the tournament at Alexandra Palace.
Snooker icon O’Sullivan beat Ali Carter in last year’s final to extend his record to EIGHT titles.
But someone else will have their name on the trophy at the end of the month.
Why isn’t Ronnie O’Sullivan playing at the 2025 snooker Masters?
The World Snooker Tour released a statement on Friday morning that revealed O’Sullivan had withdrawn.
He was due to face old rival John Higgins in the first match of the tournament on Sunday afternoon.
The WST statement read: “Last year’s champion O’Sullivan was due to face John Higgins in the opening match on Sunday afternoon, but has withdrawn on medical grounds.”
The withdrawal comes after O’Sullivan endured a shocking couple of days at the non-ranking Championship League.
On his first day in Leicester, O’Sullivan lost three consecutive games to Chris Wakelin, Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby.
He then saved his place in the tournament by beating Jak Jones late but started Thursday with another defeat to Robert Milkins.
During that game he could be seen hitting his cue on the table multiple times and was later reported to have thrown it in the bin.
He then withdrew ahead of his next scheduled group game against Ali Carter.
Who will replace Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Masters 2025?
The top 16 players in the world rankings are invited to the Masters but the cut-off point comes after the UK Championship.
Neil Robertson was sat 17th and will come straight in and play the first game at Ally Pally.
The WST statement added: “Higgins will now face Robertson, who was ranked in 17th position at the seeding cutoff after the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.”
Masters 2025 schedule and draw
Here is the full draw for the opening round and the schedule for the latter stages:
All matches are best of 11 frames until the final, which is the best of 19.
Sunday, January 12
Afternoon session (1pm GMT)
- Neil Robertson vs John Higgins (R1)
Evening session (7pm)
- Shaun Murphy vs Gary Wilson (R1)
Monday, January 13
Afternoon session (1pm)
- Mark Williams vs Ding Junhui (R1)
Evening session (7pm)
- Mark Selby vs Ali Carter (R1)
Tuesday, January 14
Afternoon session (1pm)
- Judd Trump vs Barry Hawkins (R1)
Evening session (7pm)
- Mark Allen vs Si Jiahui (R1)
Wednesday, January 15
Afternoon session (1pm)
- Kyren Wilson vs Zhang Anda
Evening session (7pm GMT)
- Luca Brecel vs Chris Wakelin
Quarter-finals
Thursday, January 16
- 1pm: QF3
- 7pm: QF4
Friday, January 17
- 1pm: QF1
- 7pm: QF2
Semi-finals
Saturday, January 18
- 1pm: Winner of QF3 v Winner of QF4
- 7pm: Winner of QF1 v Winner of QF2
Final
Sunday, January 19
- 1pm and 7pm