Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the upcoming German Masters in January after a hiatus of nine years from the tournament. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan has been absent from the main stages of the event since 2017 but is now listed to compete for the £550,000 prize.
Having not participated in or withdrawn from the tournament since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan attempted to enter in 2022 but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei during the qualifying rounds in Cannock, preventing his journey to Germany.
The 50-year-old will kick off his matches against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. He is among the top 16 seeds, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absence from the lineup, as confirmed on the German Masters’ official website.
The prestigious tournament is scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, with Kyren Wilson returning as the defending champion after his thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins earlier this year.
Highly regarded contenders like Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy are also part of the draw alongside O’Sullivan. Trump, a three-time winner in the last six editions, will be aiming for another triumph.
O’Sullivan, who has a track record of last-minute withdrawals from events, left fans speculating about his participation in 2026. The seven-time world champion withdrew from the British Open in September citing health issues and had also opted out of the Wuhan Open the previous month.
In early 2025, O’Sullivan withdrew from the German Masters, the Masters, and the Championship League matches to prioritize his mental well-being, stating, “I’ve been trying to prioritize my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.”
Ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan is yet to secure a ranking event win in the current 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, he relocated from Essex to Dubai in November, citing challenges with jet lag in his frequent travels to the Middle East and China.
Sky has announced a reduced price for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the upcoming season, providing members with savings of £336 and access to over 1,400 live matches across various leagues including the Premier League and EFL. The network will broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 matches compared to previous seasons.