Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the German Masters in January after a hiatus of nine years from the competition. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, has not participated in the main rounds of the tournament since 2017 but is lined up for the chance to compete for the £550,000 prize this time.
Having refrained from entering or withdrawing from the event since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan made an attempt to qualify for the 2022 edition but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in the Cannock qualifiers, missing the opportunity to advance to Germany.
The 50-year-old will kick off his campaign against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. As one of the top 16 seeds, O’Sullivan is geared up for the event, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absence from the roster, as confirmed on the German Masters’ official website.
The German Masters is slated to commence on January 26 at Berlin’s Tempodrom, with Kyren Wilson entering as the defending champion following his narrow 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins at the beginning of the current year. Among the contenders eyeing success are Judd Trump, who has clinched victory in three out of the last six editions, and a lineup that includes Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.
Despite his sporadic withdrawals from events, O’Sullivan’s fans are eagerly anticipating his presence in 2026, considering his history. The snooker legend withdrew from the British Open in September due to health reasons, following a similar decision regarding the Wuhan Open a month prior.
In early 2025, O’Sullivan opted out of the German Masters, the Masters, and 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. I realize plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew, so I just wanted to say sorry.”
Ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has yet to secure a ranking event win 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 from frequent work in the Middle East and China.
In other news, Sky has enhanced its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports package to include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+, and Hayu, along with 135 channels and comprehensive coverage of the Premier League and EFL. Sky airs over 1,400 live matches across various sports, including the Premier League, EFL, Formula 1, darts, and golf.