Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the 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 included in the lineup competing for the £550,000 prize pool.
Having not participated in 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 snooker legend will face off against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang in his opening match. He is one of the top 16 seeds for the tournament, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absence from the draw, which has been officially announced on the German Masters’ website.
Scheduled to kick off on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the tournament will see Kyren Wilson defending his championship title after a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins earlier this year. Judd Trump, a three-time winner in the last six editions, will also be a strong contender alongside other prominent players like Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.
O’Sullivan has a history of last-minute withdrawals from events, leaving fans uncertain about his appearance at the 2026 tournament. The seven-time world champion previously pulled out of the British Open due to medical reasons and withdrew from the Wuhan Open the month before.
In 2025, O’Sullivan made the decision to prioritize his mental health, withdrawing from the German Masters, the Masters, and matches in the Championship League. He expressed his regret for letting down fans who had purchased tickets for the events and emphasized his commitment to returning to peak performance with the support of his fans.
Currently ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has yet to secure a ranking event victory in the ongoing 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to former EastEnders actress Laila Rouass in June, O’Sullivan relocated from Essex to Dubai in November, citing challenges with jet lag in his previous travel schedules.
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