Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the upcoming German Masters in January after a nine-year hiatus from the tournament. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan last competed in the main stages of the event in 2017 and is now poised to vie for the £550,000 prize.
Having refrained from participating or withdrawn since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan made an attempt to enter the tournament in 2022 but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei during the qualifiers in Cannock, preventing his journey to Germany.
The 50-year-old snooker legend is slated to face Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang in his opening match as one of the top 16 seeds. Notably, Ding Junhui is the only absentee from the draw, which has been officially announced on the German Masters’ website.
Scheduled to kick off on January 26 at Berlin’s Tempodrom arena, the tournament will see Kyren Wilson defending his title after a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins in the previous edition. Among the contenders, Judd Trump, who has clinched three titles in the last six editions, will be eyeing another triumph. Other prominent players in the mix include Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.
Although O’Sullivan has a track record of last-minute withdrawals from events, fans are hopeful for his appearance in 2026. The seven-time world champion had to pull out of the British Open in September citing “medical reasons” and also withdrew from the Wuhan Open the month before.
In early 2025, O’Sullivan opted out of the German Masters, the Masters, and matches in the Championship League to prioritize his mental well-being. Addressing his decisions, O’Sullivan expressed regret for disappointing fans and emphasized his commitment to regaining top form with their support.
Currently ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has not secured a ranking event victory in the ongoing 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, O’Sullivan relocated from Essex to Dubai in November to accommodate his work commitments in the Middle East and China.
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