Ronnie O'Sullivan has been dealt a financial blow by withdrawing from yet another tournament, therefore sacrificing his chances of landing £300,000 in prize money. His sporadic participation in 2025 has knocked him out of contention for the Players Championship and the Tour Championship, tournaments both boasting a £150,000 winner's cheque - a sum the 49-year-old snooker star will now miss out on due to his ranking.

Since his UK Championship first-round defeat by Barry Hawkins, O'Sullivan has skipped seven events: the Shoot Out, Scottish Open, Masters, German Masters, Welsh Open, World Open, and he has added the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong to this list of non-participations. The icon has admitted his disappointment at missing out but insists on prioritising his wellbeing over competition.

He revealed: "I am very disappointed not to be competing. I had been eager to make my comeback in Hong Kong and have put in my utmost effort but unfortunately must consider my health. I wish to sincerely thank the organisers and all the Hong Kong fans for their support."

This decision means snooker fans must wait until the World Championship qualifiers, which run from April 7 to April 16 in Sheffield, to possibly see The Rocket back in action. The main event kicks off at the iconic Crucible Theatre on April 19, with the final slated for May 5.

The world no. 4 has only competed in five matches this year - all of which took place at the Championship League in Leicester, held behind closed doors.

In a February social media post, O'Sullivan reached out to fans, expressing regret for his withdrawals from various events. He explained: "I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew. So, I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who've been disappointed with me having to pull out of those tournaments."

O'Sullivan shed light on the reasoning behind his absence, stating: "I've been trying to prioritise my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play. It's never an easy decision and I hate letting people down. I'm doing what I can to get back to my best, and I'm grateful for all your support and understanding."

This article originally appeared on Mirror