Ronnie O'Sullivan makes World Snooker Championship withdrawal decision - 'Took its toll'

Ronnie O'Sullivan has opened up about his uncertainty regarding participation in the forthcoming World Snooker Championship. The snooker legend, who hasn't competed since a frustrating run at the Championship League in January where he withdrew after losing four out of five matches and infamously snapped his cue, is yet to confirm his presence at the prestigious event. The 49 year old sports star withdrew from the Masters at Alexandra Palace following his Championship League exit and has been absent from subsequent tournaments including the German Masters, Welsh Open, World Open, and World Grand Prix.

Despite not qualifying for the Players Championship or featuring in the ongoing Tour Championship in Manchester, O'Sullivan's name remains on the entry list for the World Championship, set to commence on April 19. However, his attendance remains uncertain. In a recent statement to TNT Sports, O'Sullivan, known as the Rocket, indicated he would make a last-minute decision, saying: "I don't know yet.



I haven't made my mind up, I'll probably make a decision on maybe the 17th or 18th of April." He added, "I don't know when I'm due to play my first match, so I'm going to try and leave myself as much time as possible. I'd love to be able to go there and play, I'd love to be able to have the confidence to be able to get my cue out and go and play snooker," reports the Mirror .

"I just need to give myself as much time as possible to see where I'm at with it, and see whether it's something I'm going to be able to do." O'Sullivan, who recently ended his relationship with long-term partner Laila Rouass, confessed that he has found little enjoyment in snooker over recent years. He shared: "It's been a real struggle.

I've tried to play my way through. I've had moments and glimpses where I thought, 'OK, this is OK'." He elaborated on his dip in form, stating: "But on the whole, probably three-and-a-half years out of the last four have been pretty terrible for me and that's kind of took its toll.

I kind of got a bit tired. It kind of ground me down to the point where I kind of lost the love for the game." O'Sullivan also disclosed a moment of frustration earlier in the year, saying: "That's why in January, I snapped my cue just in temper, in frustration.

I don't really want to feel like that, so I've taken time out. I am just gonna try and fix what I think is the problem before I come back to play serious snooker again." Currently provisionally seeded fourth for the forthcoming World Championship, O'Sullivan's participation remains uncertain.

Should he opt out, his first-round adversary will likely advance by default, as qualifying rounds would have concluded by then..