Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out of European Masters

The world No.1 had been due to get his season underway in Germany but, according to Eurosport commentator Dave Hendon, O’Sullivan took a late decision not to play the event.

A short statement, released by World Snooker, read: ‘Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the BetVictor European Masters in Germany for medical reasons.’

By skipping the tournament, as he did 12 months ago, O’Sullivan’s first competitive appearance of the season is not likely to come until the Shanghai Masters next month.

The 47-year-old is not the only high-profile player missing from the first major knockout event of the season with  Graeme Dott having pulled out, while  Liu Hongyu failed to obtain a work permit.

World champion Luca Brecel, meanwhile, gets his campaign underway against Jackson Page, but he will do so minus the cue that fired him to glory at the Crucible earlier this year.

Speaking to the World Snooker Tour website about the new season, 28-year-old Brecel said: ‘Very excited. It’s a shame, though, that my cue got lost. When I got back from Seattle to Frankfurt, the cue didn’t show up.

‘It was my favourite cue, I won the World Championship with it. I’ve had it for maybe two years, but I got really used to it, it was the best cue I ever had – my favourite cue ever.

‘It’s a nightmare to travel with, sometimes I wish I was a darts player with a small case.

‘They [the airline] said to report it online and fill in a form and hope you get it back. I’m still waiting, when I check the status online it says they are still searching for it.’

MORE : Luca Brecel admits fears after losing World Championship-winning cue

MORE : Stephen Hendry hails ‘sponge’ Ronnie O’Sullivan: ‘A lot of it goes over my head’

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