Ronnie O’Sullivan has apologised to followers following his withdrawal from this week’s Welsh Open.
The Rocket has not performed since pulling out of the Championship League final month, the place he misplaced three of his 4 matches.
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His frustration boiled over throughout a defeat to Robert Milkins and after lacking a routine shot, O’Sullivan snapped his cue.
He later withdrew from the Masters at Alexandra Palace and the German Masters in Berlin earlier than pulling out of the Welsh Open lower than 24 hours earlier than his scheduled first-round match.
The seven-time world champion has since been the goal of stinging criticism from followers who had purchased tickets to observe him play, solely to be let down by his absence.
However now, O’Sullivan, who has withdrawn from six tournaments this season, has damaged his silence and launched a press release to followers relating to his present state of affairs.
Within the declaration posted on social media platform, X, O’Sullivan informed followers of his annoyance at letting them down however revealed that he was prioritising his well being and wellbeing.
His assertion learn: “I realise loads of individuals who purchased tickets to some current snooker occasions could have been pissed off after I withdrew, so I simply needed to make an apology to these of you who’ve been disillusioned with me having to tug out of these tournaments.
“I’ve been attempting to prioritise my well being and well-being, which typically means making last-minute choices to not play. It’s by no means a straightforward resolution and I hate letting individuals down.
“I’m doing what I can to get again to my greatest, and I’m grateful for all of your help and understanding.”
O’Sullivan is scheduled to tackle Stuart Carrington on the World Open in China on February 23 nevertheless it stays unsure as as to if he’ll participate.
The Rocket beforehand mentioned his motive for withdrawing from the Masters final month claiming exhaustion had performed an element within the resolution.
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“It was a nightmare resolution actually to make, if you happen to’d have requested me Sunday if I used to be able to play I’d in all probability have been okay to play. Nevertheless it’s such a large event,” he informed Eurosport.
“I’d been on a three-week journey away enjoying and I simply suppose I exhausted myself, a whole lot of stress whereas I used to be away. The build-up of all that simply acquired a bit an excessive amount of actually.
“I misplaced the plot on Thursday, snapped my cue, in order that’s unplayable, so I knew at that second in time the precise resolution was to not play and such a giant event that I assumed whoever was to come back in ought to have had not less than a few days discover.”
Requested concerning the second he snapped his cue, O’Sullivan mentioned: “It was within the bin, one among them wheelie bins, however my mate mentioned we will’t go away that right here, so he acquired it out and introduced it with us.
“I’ve acquired a few different cues that I can begin practising with as a result of there’s some tournaments arising. I’m going to proceed to play so I must get used to the cue now.”
O’Sullivan had been attributable to play Jamie Clarke on this week’s opening spherical at Llandudno nevertheless the 49-year-old’s withdrawal noticed Clarke handed a bye into the second spherical.
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Talking about O’Sullivan’s resolution to tug out of the match, Clarke informed the BBC: “Yeah I believe there was [disappointment], after I acquired the telephone name this morning.
“You do not get many probabilities to play Ronnie. He picks and chooses his occasions, and rightly so. I used to be in all probability extra joyful than not joyful, however it might have been good to play him.”