Ricky Walden, 42, taken to hospital as snooker star forced to PULL OUT of German Masters on medical grounds

SNOOKER star Ricky Walden was taken to hospital after being forced to pull out of the German Masters on medical grounds.

The 42-year-old was due to play Barry Hawkins in the last 16 on Thursday morning.

But the match was scrapped after Walden was taken to hospital on Wednesday night.

He has since withdrawn from the German Masters on medical grounds.

While the issue regarding Walden’s health has not been disclosed.

A statement from the World Snooker Tour read: “Ricky Walden has withdrawn from the ongoing Machineseeker German Masters on medical grounds.”

Former German snooker star Rolf Kalb added on X: “Bad news. Ricky Walden had to be taken to hospital last night and was therefore forced to withdraw from the German Masters.”

Walden had been in good form heading into his battle against Hawkins.

The ace had already taken wins against Ryan Day and Dylan Emery.

And victory in his last 16 tie would sealed Walden’s first quarter-final appearance since the 2023 Northern Ireland Open.

His withdrawal means Hawkins gets an automatic bye in the final eight, where he will take on either Wu Yize or Alexander Ursenbacher.

Walden’s German Masters cameo came after he played in last week’s Championship League.

It saw him beat Xiao Guodong, Zhou Yuelong, Dave Gilbert, Noppon Saengkham and Joe O’Connor.

As for today’s other German Masters fixtures, Guodong takes on Elliot Slessor, Anthony McGill faces Zhang Anda and Kyren Wilson plays Jak Jones.

In the evening, Judd Trump meets Neil Robertson while Shaun Murphy plays Yuan Sijun and Tom Ford battles Aaron Hill.