Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls OUT of German Masters for ‘health and wellbeing’ reasons and sends message to fans

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN will NOT battle for a bounty in Berlin after pulling out of the German Masters for “health and wellbeing” reasons.

The Rocket has won the UK Championship, Masters and World Grand Prix - £600,000 in prize money – and not lost on the main Tour since November 11.

Yet the world No 1 feels he needs to take a break from competition over the coming weeks.

O’Sullivan, 48, was due to face Belgian Julien Leclercq in a held-over qualifier in the German capital on Monday afternoon.

He will now be replaced in the draw by unranked Barry Pinches.

In a statement last week, O’Sullivan said: “I just want to let my fans in Germany know that sadly I’ve decided to withdraw from the German Masters next week.

“I love the event and fans in Germany but I have to make my health and wellbeing the priority.

“It’s been a tiring and challenging season for me so far, despite how it may seem with the tournament wins. So hope you understand.

“I’m sorry I won’t be there and I hope to see you all soon.”

Separately, Martin Gould has withdrawn for medical reasons while Iranian Hossein Vafaei has pulled out due to visa issues.

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During his Masters run, O’Sullivan expressed his desire not to play a grudge match with Scottish teen Liam Graham at the Welsh Open next month – so it is likely he will soon quit that tournament.

His next appearance on UK soil could be the Players Championship in Telford, which starts the week commencing February 19.

O’Sullivan said earlier this month: “I’m a bit played-out, to be honest with you.

“I had such a strong push September-October-November December, I really went hard at every tournament.

“I look at the first four months as the main part of my season. I put everything into that and I did better than I thought I would do.

“Subconsciously you think, I was quite content with that. It’s hard to keep motivating yourself. It really is. This game is too hard.

“I’m going to take two months off now. I feel like I want a break.

‘I’m looking forward to getting on the exhibition circuit, start playing more exhibitions, I enjoy them, they’re a bit of fun.

“Too much intense snooker for me is not good.

"I need to back off and consolidate and get some fun in the game so the exhibitions will be good.”