Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the German Masters in January after a nine-year hiatus from the competition. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan has not participated in the tournament since 2017, but this time, he is vying for the £550,000 prize.
Having been absent from the event since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan either did not enter or withdrew in the subsequent years. Despite entering in 2022, he faced a defeat of 5-0 against Hossein Vafaei during the qualifying round in Cannock, preventing him from advancing to Germany.
In the upcoming tournament, the 50-year-old snooker legend will face off against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang in his opening match. He is among the top 16 seeds, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absence from the draw, which has been officially released on the German Masters’ website.
Scheduled to kick off on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the tournament will see Kyren Wilson defending his championship title, having clinched a thrilling 10-9 victory against Barry Hawkins earlier this year. Notable contenders such as Judd Trump, Mark Selby, and Neil Robertson are also in the mix for the prestigious event.
O’Sullivan, who has a history of last-minute withdrawals from events, left fans speculating about his participation in the 2026 edition. The seven-time world champion withdrew from the British Open in September due to health reasons and had previously pulled out of the Wuhan Open.
In a recent move to prioritize his mental well-being, O’Sullivan opted out of the German Masters, the Masters, and Championship League matches at the beginning of 2025. Expressing his sentiments, he mentioned, “I’ve been trying to prioritize my health and wellbeing, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.”
Ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has not secured a ranking event victory in the current season. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, he relocated from Essex to Dubai in November to manage his work commitments in the Middle East and China.
For snooker enthusiasts, Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, offering savings of up to £336 and access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues. Additionally, Sky will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, a significant increase from previous years.