Ronnie O’Sullivan has discussed why he chose not to compete in the Welsh Open this year.
The 48-year-old multiple winner, who made headlines by winning The Masters earlier this year, was considered one of the favorites going into the current competition, but he decided to pull out after admitting he had “stage fright.”
As the competition got began in the picturesque seaside town of Llandudno, O’Sullivan was in the Eurosport studio, explaining why he didn’t want to be competing against other players.
It’s uncommon to see elite athletes skip competitions, so when O’Sullivan decided to forego a tournament despite having no injuries, it surely raised some questions.
The outspoken celebrity, who has said in the past that he thought about giving up snooker after dominating the scene for so long, clarified that he currently wants to play as little as possible.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has provided additional details regarding his absence from the Welsh Open this year.
The 48-year-old celebrity is a television pundit who is now in Wales monitoring the competition.
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The 48-year-old celebrity is a television pundit who is now in Wales monitoring the competition.
Speaking during the event’s coverage, O’Sullivan clarified why he had opted to sit out and declined to say when he would play again.
“It’s always a great week and I think everyone loves coming to this tournament,” he told Eurosport. “I think it’s a great tournament and a great venue, really nice to be on the coast.”
My goal is to stay in the rankings, free up some time, and have fun, so if I can play as little as possible, that’s wonderful for me.
“I don’t want to spend every week on the treadmill.”
In O’Sullivan’s absence, fellow veteran players John Higgins and Mark Selby are currently among the heavy favorites to win.
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