O'Sullivan, Defending Champion, Pulls Out of Masters Tournament

Ronnie O'Sullivan Withdraws from Masters

The defending champion, Ronnie O'Sullivan, has withdrawn from the Masters on medical grounds. O'Sullivan, 49, was aiming to win a record-extending ninth title, and had been set to face John Higgins in a blockbuster opening to the tournament at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

Neil Robertson will take O'Sullivan's place in the invitational event for the 16 highest-ranked players in the world. Robertson, like Higgins, is also a two-time winner of the Masters and most recently triumphed in 2022.

More Updates to Follow

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.