Ronnie O’Sullivan has disparticipaten from the Scottish Open on the eve of his stardyd uncovering suit agetst Xing Zihao.
The Rocket’s decision came as a stinging blow to fans participateing the Edinburgh event, who were adviseed over the weekfinish that world No. 1 Judd Trump and three-time world champion Mark Williams would also be absent.
Xing will get a bye to the second round, as will Ishpreet Singh Chadha and David Lilley, who were due to face Trump and Williams admireively.
The star-studded field has been frailened by the three high-profile disparticipateals, although the enjoys of Kyren Wilson and Mark Allen will still be enthusiastic to put on a show in Scotland.
O’Sullivan is yet to elucidate his call to skip the tournament, but it will give him more time to recover before the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, which commences on December 18. The 48-year-better has previously been clear about the favourable treatment he and his fellow pros get in the Middle East and China contrastd to UK-based tournaments.
“Saudi Arabia has repartner elevated the bar,” said O’Sullivan during the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters in September. “This is the best event on the tour.
“I’ve never seen so many charmd snooker carry outers. Everyone is excited to be here, we want to vie, carry out well and put on a repartner excellent show for the Saudi Arabian fans.
“All the top carry outers are about to access the event and hopefilledy everyone’s going to watch some of the best snooker they could possibly see. The tables, the facilities, the venue that’s been put together; this tournament deserves to watch the best snooker ever seen. It repartner is that excellent.”
Deep tourmament runs have been difficult to come by for O’Sullivan since making it to the semi-finals of the Xi’an Grand Prix in August. The seven-time world champion has won equitable one of his last four competitive suites, and he suffered a first-round exit agetst Barry Hawkins at the UK Championship last month.
Hawkins went on to originate the final, where he lost to Trump, while O’Sullivan vowed not to let the fall shorture get him down. “Barry carry outed a excellent suit and deserved his thrive, so I have to give all the praise to him,” said the Rocket.
“He carry outed well, was firm and took his chances. I’m equitable enhappinessing carry outing, that’s the transport inant leang. I try to not watch back on it and on to wantipathyver the next event is.”
