Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the upcoming German Masters tournament in January after a hiatus of nine years. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan will be competing for the £550,000 prize, marking his return to the main stages of the event.
Having not participated since 2017, O’Sullivan had either not entered or withdrawn from the tournament in the past nine years. In a recent qualifying match in Cannock, he lost 5-0 to Hossein Vafaei, preventing him from advancing to Germany.
The 50-year-old snooker legend will face Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang in his first match as one of the top 16 seeds. The draw for the German Masters, which excludes Ding Junhui, has been released on the tournament’s official website.
Scheduled to kick off on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the defending champion Kyren Wilson will be looking to retain his title after a thrilling victory over Barry Hawkins in the previous edition. Judd Trump, a three-time winner in the last six years, will also be a strong contender alongside other top players like Mark Selby, Mark Williams, and Neil Robertson.
O’Sullivan, who has a history of last-minute withdrawals, faced similar situations in previous years due to health concerns. Despite being ranked eighth in the world, he has yet to secure a ranking event win in the current season. Following his relocation to Dubai after marrying actress Laila Rouass, O’Sullivan expressed challenges with jet lag from frequent travel to the Middle East and China.
In other news, Sky has announced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering substantial savings and over 1,400 live matches across various sports leagues. With an increase in live Premier League games and coverage of Formula 1, darts, and golf, Sky continues to provide extensive sports entertainment options for viewers.