Ding Junhui will be “particularly happy,” according to Neal Foulds, to see Ronnie O’Sullivan take a vacation from snooker.
The Rocket has opted out of competing in the German Masters the following week in order to put his health and wellness first.
The 48-year-old defeated Judd Trump after coming from behind to win the World Grand Prix last Sunday.
After defeating Ding 10-7 in the UK Championship final, O’Sullivan eliminated him from the Masters and the World Grand Prix.
Commentators hailed his victory in the Grand Prix as one of the greatest snooker matches they had ever witnessed.
Ding lost his qualifying against Yuan Sijun in December, therefore he won’t be attending the German Masters next week.
Foulds, a former player, claims that O’Sullivan’s decision to compete in fewer tournaments will make the Chinese player happy.
He believes that the seven-time world champion’s decision to step back will be met with a general feeling of relief on the circuit.
“[O’Sullivan] can’t keep winning every week, of course he can’t, but right now, when he’s playing well, it’s hard to see who steps up to take him down,” Foulds wrote in a Sporting Life article.
“The other players will be relieved that he isn’t in Berlin, but the German tournament organizers may be dissatisfied.
Ding, who was soundly defeated in their World Grand Prix semifinal session and just denied in the UK Championship final, is one man who will be especially relieved to see Ronnie go.
“My ITV colleague Ken Doherty called Ronnie’s snooker session the best he’s ever seen; it was just amazing.”
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