- The 48-year-old further explained why he is missing the Welsh Open.
- Ronnie O’Sullivan will cover the event in Llandudno as a television pundit.
- O’Sullivan previously admitted he has been battling “stage fright”
Ronnie O’Sullivan has opened up about his decision not to play in this year’s edition of the Welsh Open.
The 48-year-old serial champion starred in his Masters victory earlier in the year and was one of the favorites for the ongoing tournament, but opted to withdraw after revealing he was suffering from “stage fright”.
O’Sullivan was in the Eurosport studio when the tournament began in the picturesque seaside town of Llandudno and explained why he did not want to compete with other players.
It is rare to see top players left out of tournaments and with O’Sullivan not suffering from any injuries, his decision has certainly raised eyebrows.
However, the outspoken star, who previously admitted he had considered retiring from snooker after dominating the circuit for so many years, explained that he wants to play as little as possible at the moment.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has explained in more detail why he is missing this year’s edition of the Welsh Open
The 48-year-old star works as a television commentator covering the tournament in Wales.
Speaking about coverage of the event, O’Sullivan elaborated on his previous explanation for not taking part and did not confirm when he would return to action.
“I think it’s a great tournament and a great venue, it’s really nice to be on the coast, it’s always a great week and I think everyone loves coming to this tournament,” he told Eurosport.
“The key for me is to be able to play the shortest amount of time that is great for me and try to stay in the rankings, have some time and enjoy it.”
“I don’t want to be on the treadmill every week.”
Long-serving teammates John Higgins and Mark Selby are now among the frontrunners to claim the title in O’Sullivan’s absence.
In a post last week in preparation for the Welsh Open, O’Sullivan wrote on his , but for years I have sometimes suffered from stage fright, caused by anxiety.
“It’s not something I can predict or control, but I try to manage it as best I can.
“I’m sorry to everyone who bought tickets, but I can’t understand when I feel this way and I think this is the best thing for me right now.”
“I still want to be present at the tournament, so I will do some work with Eurosport and hope to see everyone there.”