Ronnie O’Sullivan has confirmed his participation in the upcoming German Masters in January, marking his return to the tournament after a hiatus of nine years. Known as “The Rocket”, O’Sullivan has been absent from the main stages of the event since 2017 but is set to compete for the £550,000 prize this time.
Having not taken part in the tournament since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan entered the 2022 edition but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in the qualifying rounds in Cannock, preventing him from advancing to Germany.
The 50-year-old snooker legend will kick off his campaign against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. Notably, O’Sullivan is among the top 16 seeds for the event, with Ding Junhui being the only absentee from the draw, which has been officially released on the German Masters’ website.
Scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the tournament will see Kyren Wilson defending his title after a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins earlier this year. Judd Trump, a three-time champion in the last six editions, will also be a strong contender alongside other notable players like Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.
Despite O’Sullivan’s history of last-minute withdrawals from events, fans are hopeful for his appearance in 2026. The snooker icon withdrew from the British Open in September due to health reasons and also pulled out of the Wuhan Open the previous month.
In 2025, O’Sullivan opted out of the German Masters, the Masters, and Championship League matches to prioritize his mental well-being. Reflecting on his decisions, O’Sullivan expressed regret for disappointing fans with his withdrawals and thanked them for their continued support.
Currently ranked eighth in the world, O’Sullivan has not secured a ranking event victory in the ongoing 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, O’Sullivan relocated from Essex to Dubai in November, citing challenges with jet lag from frequent travel to the Middle East and China.
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