Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the upcoming German Masters in January after a hiatus of nine years from the tournament. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan, who has not participated in the main stages of the event since 2017, is now confirmed to compete for the £550,000 prize.
Having either not entered or withdrawn from the tournament since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan attempted to qualify in 2022 but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in Cannock, preventing his journey to Germany.
The 50-year-old will kick off his campaign against one of Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. He is one of the top 16 seeds, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absence from the draw, which has been officially released on the German Masters’ website.
Scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the tournament will see Kyren Wilson defending his title after a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins earlier this year. Judd Trump, a three-time champion in the last six editions, is also expected to make a strong showing alongside other top contenders like Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy.
Despite his history of last-minute withdrawals from events, O’Sullivan’s fans are eagerly anticipating his participation in 2026. The seven-time world champion recently withdrew from the British Open citing “medical reasons” and had also pulled out of the Wuhan Open the month before.
In early 2025, O’Sullivan opted out of the German Masters, the Masters, and Championship League matches to focus on 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.”
Currently ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has yet to secure a ranking event victory in the ongoing 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, he relocated from Essex to Dubai in November, citing challenges with jet lag due to frequent work in the Middle East and China.
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