Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out of ANOTHER big snooker event with a mystery ‘medical issue’, weeks after he hinted he could quit the sport at 48

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open on the opening day of the competition, citing unknown medical reasons for his absence.

The legendary snooker star has been flirting with the idea of leaving the sport for good and will now miss a third consecutive competition after previously sitting out of the British and Wuhan Opens.

O’Sullivan, 48, hasn’t featured in a competitive fixture since crashing out of the British Open in the first round on September 17 and now won’t be present in Northern Ireland.

The seven-time world champion has pulled out of the upcoming tournament on medical grounds the World Snooker Tour (WST) has announced, with his first round opponent given a free pass to the next stage.

O’Sullivan was set to play China’s Long Zehuang in a last 64 contest at Waterfront Hall, with the tournament hopeful now proceeding to the latter knockout stage without playing.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open on the opening day of the competition

The legendary snooker star has been flirting with the idea of leaving the sport for good recently

The exact reason behind O’Sullivan’s medical withdrawal is yet to be revealed as the snooker icon continues to stay away from the sport that he has won seven world titles in. 

O’Sullivan is next expected to feature at International Champions event in China starting on November 3, but it remains to be seen whether he will return for the event.

The Englishman’s longevity has been remarkable, with The Rocket’s first ranking trophy coming in 1993 aged just 17 and his latest being a win in the World Grand Prix this January. He was the number one player in the world as recently as May.

O’Sullivan is next expected to feature at International Champions event in China starting on November 3

O’Sullivan is as infamous for his outspoken nature as he is for his explosive playing style and has previously branded snooker a ‘bad sport’ and compared businessman Barry Hearn’s running of the game to a ‘dictatorship’.

Just last month he suggested retirement might not be far away if snooker bosses decide to bring in personalised walk-ons for players approaching the playing table.

‘I’d probably definitely retire if I had to do something like that,’ O’Sullivan previously claimed.

‘I’d be like “you know what I’m out of here now”.’