Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson have defended Ronnie O’Sullivan’s decision to pull out of events following his withdrawal from the Northern Ireland Open for medical reasons.
O’Sullivan was due to face Long Zehuang in his opening round match in Belfast on Monday afternoon but his withdrawal was confirmed by the World Snooker Tour on the opening day of the event last night.
It is the third consecutive tournament the world no1 has pulled out of having also missed the British Open and Wuhan Open in recent weeks.
He has not featured since being knocked out in the first round of the English Open in September following a shock defeat to He Guoqiang, describing his performance that day as ‘useless’ and ’embarrassing.’
Te 48-year-old indicated earlier this month he could play a limited schedule for the rest of the year with Sunday’s withdrawal perhaps coming as little surprise. But with the exact nature of O’Sullivan’s absence not disclosed, The Rocket’s rival Murphy has suggested snooker fans should ‘mind their own business’ when it concerns individual decisions whether to play or not.
‘It’s completely players’ prerogative to play as and when he sees fit. He’s under no obligation to play, ever, he doesn’t have to play,’ Murphy told Metro.co.uk.
‘I don’t think anyone’s going to be queuing up to scrutinise his medical excuse, but withdrawing on medical grounds is a way out of an event once you’ve entered. If he’s unwell and can’t play then that’s terrible and everyone wishes him well.
‘I feel for the fans, but sports people and artists perform circumstances permitting. The truth of the matter is none of us know what’s going on in somebody else’s life.
‘We can all make assumptions but nobody knows what’s going on with somebody else and we should all probably mind our own business.’
Reigning world champion Wilson has also taken a sympathetic view of O’Sullivan’s withdrawal, insisting ‘he must put himself first’.
‘Nobody comes before yourself, you have got to think of yourself,’ Wilson said.
‘If you’re not mentally there you have to put yourself first. We all know the pressures that Ronnie has to deal with, being the icon that he is, and he’s done everything so he’s probably not quite as hungry as myself or the younger players who are still trying to achieve half of what he has.
‘I don’t necessarily blame him. You’ve just got to enjoy him while he’s there, I suppose.’
Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan is next scheduled to feature at the International Championship in China, beginning on 3 November.
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