Ronnie O’Sullivan set for competitive return at German Masters
Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make his competitive comeback at the German Masters in Berlin next week following a period of illness, reports BritPanorama.
The seven-time world champion has been absent from the baize since suffering a first-round defeat to Zhou Yuelong at the UK Championship on 2 December in York. That loss came just three days prior to O’Sullivan celebrating his 50th birthday.
The snooker legend, currently in his 34th professional season after turning pro in 1992, aims to kickstart his 2026 campaign at the prestigious ranking event held at Berlin’s Tempodrom venue. O’Sullivan had previously withdrawn from the Masters at Alexandra Palace, citing medical grounds for his absence from the Triple Crown event, where he was scheduled to face Neil Robertson in the opening round.
Sources close to O’Sullivan indicate he did not feel physically capable of returning to elite-level competition immediately. The Dubai-based player had been experiencing fatigue in the days leading up to the event at Ally Pally. Despite engaging in practice with two professional players at an Irish pub in recent days, he felt too drained to compete at the highest level.
However, O’Sullivan is now on the mend and fully intends to participate in the Berlin event next week. Those close to him have confirmed his health is improving sufficiently to allow him to compete, marking his first competitive appearance in nearly two months since the defeat in York.
Entering the draw as the ninth seed, O’Sullivan must first navigate a heldover qualifying match against Chinese player Long Zehuang. The victor of that encounter will progress to face Ali Carter in the first round proper.
The tournament offers significant financial rewards, with the eventual champion set to collect £100,000 in prize money when the final concludes on the evening of 1 February. O’Sullivan’s return is highly anticipated, with fans eager to see how he fares after this hiatus from competitive snooker. The landscape of the sport continues to shift, reminding everyone just how quickly fortunes can change on the baize.
