The World Snooker Tour has announced that Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from next week's World Grand Prix in Hong Kong due to medical reasons.
This is the seventh ranking event O'Sullivan has withdrawn from this season, most recently at the Welsh Open in Llandudno just hours before his first round match.
A statement from the WST said: “Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from next week's World Grand Prix in Hong Kong due to medical reasons. O'Sullivan was due to play Xi Jiahui in the first round on Wednesday.”
“Instead, he will be replaced by the next player in line, Hossein Vafaei, who is ranked 33rd in Johnstone's Paint One-Year Rankings. Vafaei will take O'Sullivan's place in the draw and face Xi.”
Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan has not played on tour since withdrawing from his Championship League group in January after losing four of his five matches.
The 49-year-old then also withdrew from the Masters at Alexandra Palace, citing exhaustion after a tough series of exhibition events abroad, as well as the German Masters in Berlin.
Following his withdrawal from the Welsh Open, O'Sullivan apologised to fans who were upset by the situation but stressed that he must continue to put his health and well-being first.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
