Ronnie O'Sullivan Fuels Retirement Speculation

Ronnie O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion in snooker, has withdrawn from the Northern Ireland Open due to unspecified medical reasons, marking his third consecutive tournament absence following the British and Wuhan Opens. O'Sullivan, who was scheduled to face Long Zehuang in the first round, has not competed since an early exit at the English Open in September. His withdrawal has sparked further speculation about potential retirement, a topic he has flirted with, especially if the sport introduces changes he disagrees with, such as personalized walk-on music. Despite his recent absences, O'Sullivan has expressed a desire to return to top-level competition and might continue playing for a few more years if he remains committed. The World Snooker Tour confirmed his withdrawal, and his next potential appearance is at the International Champions event in China starting November 3. Meanwhile, other players such as Judd Trump and Pang Junxu are advancing in the Northern Ireland Open tournament.