The Rocket was due to play Liam Graham in the opening round on Monday in Llandudno, but is now likely to be replaced in the draw.
The 48-year-old explained his decision not to play, posting on social media on Saturday morning: ‘Morning guys, I wanted to let you know that I’ve decided I’m not able to play in Llandudno next week.
‘It’s hard to explain but for years I’ve suffered from stage fright at times, brought on by anxiety. It’s not something I can predict or control but I try to manage it as best as I can.
‘I’m sorry to everyone who’s bought tickets but I just can’t get my cue out when I feel like this and I think this what’s best for me right now.
‘I still want to be around the tournament so I’ll be doing some work with Eurosport and I hope to see you all there.’
World Snooker Tour are yet to announce a replacement for the Rocket, but an amateur player is expected to be called up to take his place in the draw.
The tournament has become a lot more open with O’Sullivan following Judd Trump in withdrawing from the event, after those two star names have dominated the season so far.
The Rocket has won two ranking and two non-ranking titles, while Trump has hoovered up four ranking events, including the most recent one at the German Masters.
O’Sullivan’s withdrawal is not a surprise, having said at the World Grand Prix last month that he intended to take a break from snooker, starting at the German Masters and including the Welsh Open.
‘I’ll be missing quite a few tournaments now after this,’ O’Sullivan said on ITV after his opening round win at the World Grand Prix.
‘I shouldn’t even really have come here to be honest with you, but I thought I’d earned me right here so I’d turn up, in hindsight I should have just bailed on this one as well. But I’m here now so I’m going to give it my best shot.
‘I’ll try and qualify for the China event because I like the China events and that will be me pretty much done until the next ITV event.
‘I’ll try and show up for that [the Players Championship] because that’s quite a decent tournament.’
The Players Championship begins on 19 February in Telford.
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