Defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Masters on medical grounds.
O’Sullivan, 49, was aiming to win a record-extending ninth title, and had been set to face John Higgins in a blockbuster opening to the event at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.
The Englishman’s place within the invitational occasion for the 16 highest-ranked gamers on this planet might be taken by Neil Robertson.
Like Higgins, the Australian is a two-time winner of the Masters and most lately triumphed in 2022 and was ranked seventeenth on the seeding cutoff in December.
O’Sullivan has received 41 rating occasions and 7 world titles throughout a storied profession since turning skilled in 1992 and claimed his first Masters crown in 1995 on the age of 19.
His success 12 months in the past, aged 48, meant that he grew to become each the oldest and youngest-ever winner of the second Triple Crown occasion of the season.
He additionally elected to overlook the Masters in 2020. This week, he pulled out of the Championship League earlier than his last group sport on Thursday after turning into pissed off together with his personal efficiency in a 3-2 loss to Robert Milkins.
‘The Rocket’ performed 4 matches on Wednesday, shedding three of them and whacked his cue towards the desk after lacking a straightforward pink towards Milkins.
Whereas he shortly apologised to the referee and his opponent, there have been stories from Leicester, exterior that he later threw his cue right into a bin earlier than it was retrieved.
Each spherical of the Masters, which runs from 12-19 January, might be proven stay on BBC TV. Additionally, you will be capable of watch uninterrupted protection on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport web site and the BBC Sport cellular app, with further protection on BBC Purple Button.