2025 Masters

[DeanH]

Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Masters; Neil Robertson will play John Higgins on Sunday.

https://www.wst.tv/news/2025/january...paint-masters/

[Nifty50]

Beginning of the end for the GOAT?

[Cue crafty]

Wow, don't think I've seen ROS look more unhappy than in those league thingy matches. What works great for one person (i.e Willo ) may not be right for another.

Hendry has always said he had too many coaching thoughts in his head and in the end he didn't know what cue action he should be using on any given shot.

Hope it's not a sad decline, wouldn't wish that on anyone.

[itsnoteasy]

CC, talking about Williams, I saw on Hendry's YouTube channel that Lee Walker was working with Osullivan.

[Cue crafty]

CC, talking about Williams, I saw on Hendry's YouTube channel that Lee Walker was working with Osullivan.

Yes mate, sorry I should have made it clearer that was my point. Apparently only a week ago, O'Sullivan was singing about how much he was loving the game now almost more than ever under this new tuition with Walker.
Now he's busted his cue and looked down right miserable with it all, so not sure if it's to do with that or his personal life as there was turmoil there too, splitting with his long term partner.

I kinda hope it is his personal life that's the issue as there's more chance of a way back from that. 😉

[DawRef]

Why doesn't John Higgins get a walkover then if O'Sullivan has withdrawn? In most other tournaments, from what I understand, if a player withdraws, doesn't show or cannot play, his opponent get's a walkover.

[DeanH]

Why doesn't John Higgins get a walkover then if O'Sullivan has withdrawn? In most other tournaments, from what I understand, if a player withdraws, doesn't show or cannot play, his opponent get's a walkover.

In most events if time allowing, WST/WPBSA will fill the place with the next in-line - usually by 2-year Tour ranking; some events can be the 1-year listings

[Cue crafty]

In most events if time allowing, WST/WPBSA will fill the place with the next in-line - usually by 2-year Tour ranking; some events can be the 1-year listings

I'm guessing as well that the sponsor will have sold tickets and prefer to put a match up instead of refunding people for the session.

[snookerfollower]

Why doesn't John Higgins get a walkover then if O'Sullivan has withdrawn? In most other tournaments, from what I understand, if a player withdraws, doesn't show or cannot play, his opponent get's a walkover.

The walkover usually comes into play after the first round i.e if a top 32 player pulls out of a L32 seeded round the opponent gets a w/o. - O'Sullivan has pulled out the first round of the masters so it's topped up by the next available player as it would be in the first round of any tournament. It's just not normally the Last 16 as the first round.

I think at this rate Ronnie retires at the end of the season. I'd imagine the only thing keeping him going is that elusive 8th world title and if he reckons he can't do it he retires.

[DeanH]

Nice to see Jan Verhaas in the middle

[snookerfollower]

Apparently Ronnie is doing TV work this week. Surely if you've withdrawn on medical grounds you shouldn't be doing TV work at the tournament you've withdrawn from. Makes a mockery of the system.

If you don't want to play then don't play but don't claim it's on medical grounds when it's clearly not.

[DeanH]

Apparently Ronnie is doing TV work this week. Surely if you've withdrawn on medical grounds you shouldn't be doing TV work at the tournament you've withdrawn from. Makes a mockery of the system.

If you don't want to play then don't play but don't claim it's on medical grounds when it's clearly not.

^1
........

[Nifty50]

Ronnie on Discovery…. But Wood not O’Sullivan.

[Cue crafty]

Robertsons gander well and truly up right now. Good match so far.

[PatBlock]

Robertsons gander well and truly up right now. Good match so far.

5 - 1 down, no choice but to play the risky plant, which he misses, reds everywhere including one over the middle pocket. Wins 6 - 5.

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