Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the German Masters in January after a hiatus of nine years from the competition. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan has not participated in the main rounds of the tournament since 2017 but is now listed for the £550,000 prize.
Following his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan either did not enter or withdrew from the event. Despite attempting to compete in 2022, he was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in the qualifying rounds in Cannock, preventing his journey to Germany.
In the upcoming tournament, the 50-year-old will kick off his matches against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. As one of the top 16 seeds, O’Sullivan is among the contenders, with Ding Junhui being the only absentee from the draw, as indicated on the German Masters’ official website.
Scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the event will see Kyren Wilson defending his title after a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins earlier this year. Notable players like Judd Trump, Mark Selby, and Neil Robertson are also part of the competition.
O’Sullivan has a history of last-minute withdrawals from events, raising uncertainty about his participation in 2026. The seven-time world champion withdrew from the British Open in September due to health reasons and has previously prioritized his mental well-being by pulling out of tournaments.
Currently ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has not secured a ranking event win in the ongoing season. He relocated from Essex to Dubai in November following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass.
In other news, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle, now offering HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive coverage of the Premier League and EFL matches. Sky continues to broadcast over 1,400 live matches across various sports, including Formula 1, darts, and golf.