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 has been absent from the main stages of the tournament since 2017 but is now included in the draw vying for the £550,000 prize.
Having not participated since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan encountered a setback in 2022 when he lost 5-0 to Hossein Vafaei during qualifying in Cannock, preventing his advancement to Germany.
The 50-year-old will kick off his campaign at the tournament against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. Notably, O’Sullivan is among the top 16 seeds, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absence in the draw, as confirmed on the official German Masters’ website.
Scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the defending champion Kyren Wilson will be present, having secured victory over Barry Hawkins with a close 10-9 score in the deciding frame earlier this year.
Anticipated contenders at the event include Judd Trump, who has clinched three out of the last six editions. The likes of Wilson, Trump, Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy are all slated to compete at the German Masters.
Considering O’Sullivan’s history of last-minute withdrawals from events, fans may be on edge regarding his participation in 2026. The seven-time world champion withdrew from the British Open in September citing “medical reasons” after also pulling out of the Wuhan Open the previous month.
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 wellbeing, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.”
Ranked eighth globally presently, O’Sullivan is yet to secure a ranking event win in the ongoing 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to former “Footballers’ Wives” and “EastEnders” actress Laila Rouass in June, O’Sullivan relocated from Essex to Dubai in November, expressing difficulties coping with jet lag in previous locations.
Ahead of the 2025/26 season, Sky has introduced a discounted Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle, offering members savings of £336 and access to more than 1,400 live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL.
Sky is set to broadcast a minimum of 215 live Premier League games in the upcoming season, marking an increase of up to 100 additional matches for viewers.