{"id":292423,"date":"2023-10-20T12:39:07","date_gmt":"2023-10-20T12:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=292423"},"modified":"2023-10-20T12:39:07","modified_gmt":"2023-10-20T12:39:07","slug":"ronnie-osullivan-pulls-out-of-northern-ireland-open-after-snooker-bosses-row","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/nba\/ronnie-osullivan-pulls-out-of-northern-ireland-open-after-snooker-bosses-row\/","title":{"rendered":"Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out of Northern Ireland Open after snooker bosses row"},"content":{"rendered":"

Princess Royal watched snooker championship final, Mark Selby says<\/h3>\n

Ronnie O\u2019Sullivan has officially withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open as he continues to clash with snooker\u2019s chiefs, having become the latest big name to drop out of the competition. The Rocket has named \u201cmedical reasons\u201d as to why he will not be in attendance at Belfast, after supporting the \u2018Macau Five\u2019 who initially snubbed the event to play an exhibition in China.<\/p>\n

A statement from the World Snooker Tour read: \u201cRonnie O\u2019Sullivan has pulled out of the BetVictor Northern Ireland Open for medical reasons. O\u2019Sullivan was due to meet Ahmed Aly Elsayed during the evening session of the opening day of the tournament in Belfast, Sunday October 22nd. He has been replaced by the highest available player from the Q School ranking list, Rory McLeod.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark Selby, Luca Brecel, John Higgins, Ding Junhui and Ali Carter all signed up to compete in Macau at the same time the event in Belfast was being held, as the quintet were warned that they could face serious disciplinary action by former WST chairman Barry Hearn.<\/p>\n

WST confirmed that any player missing the Northern Ireland Open to play in a non-sanctioned event could be considered in breach of contract, but the Macau Open has since been postponed until December and the players will not be met with any sanction.<\/p>\n

JUST IN <\/strong> Ronnie O’Sullivan fires Rafael Nadal warning to snooker rivals at Wuhan Open[INTERVIEW] <\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

But O\u2019Sullivan came out in support of those who wanted to play in China as opposed to Northern Ireland, which will not have gone down well with those who run the tour. \u201cPlayers are just trying to earn money, it is their choice,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd they are realising their value. They are trying to restrict us. Those involved in Shanghai were sent letters advising them not to play.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know for the tournament in Macau players were also sent even stronger threatening letters telling them it was in breach of their contract. That with an opportunity to play in an official tournament, they were turning it down and choosing to go somewhere else, and it was damaging for the sport.<\/p>\n