A frustrated Ronnie O'Sullivan lashes out as he quits Championship League Snooker during event

The seven-time World Champion was featuring on the professional circuit for the first time in 2025, having enjoyed a successful spell on the lucrative exhibition circuit in the Far East over the Christmas and New Year period. However, his return to competitive action did not go according to plan, as he was left frustrated with his performances, lashing out at the table several times, and allegedly putting his cue in the bin at the venue before leaving.

Irritation, outbursts and bizarre behaviours are of course not unusual for the record-breaking 41-time ranking event champion, but this latest scene will be concerning for his adoring fans and the sport as a whole, with his opening match at the Masters coming up this Sunday afternoon at the Alexandra Palace in London.

Alongside reigning World Champion Kyren Wilson and defending champion Mark Selby, O'Sullivan joined this year's Championship League Invitational event in the seven-player Group Three on Wednesday at the Mattioli Arena - perhaps with his main intention of getting quality matchplay ahead of the latest Triple Crown event.

The 49-year-old hit a break of 128 as he came back from 2-0 down to Chris Wakelin in his opening match, but ended up losing 3-2.

O'Sullivan then lost 3-1 to current Crucible King Wilson before being narrowly ousted by Selby 3-2 in a high-quality affair that saw three century breaks and two further efforts over 78. In his final match of the day, 'The Rocket' managed to keep in contention as he registered a run of 106 in the deciding frame to pip Jak Jones 3-2 and get his first win of the group on the board, although he did aggressively swing a leg out at the table and verbally branded a shot he played as 'useless' during the tie.

Returning the next morning for his match with Robert Milkins, at 2-1 up, the wheels came off in frame four when he whacked his cue against the table after missing a straightforward pink - an incident he immediately apologised for - before smashing the balls in the fifth and deciding frame which allowed Milkins the opportunity to complete a 3-2 win.

Following that latest loss and implosion, O'Sullivan decided to withdraw from the event despite having one more match to go later in the afternoon against Ali Carter.

The withdrawal meant that all results involving O'Sullivan were voided from the group, although all the prize money players earned whilst playing O'Sullivan still gets paid.

It has been a difficult 2024/25 season for snooker's most decorated star. O'Sullivan has missed out on several events - often withdrawing at short notice - and at the tournaments he has appeared in, he has yet to reach a final this term.

He suffered back-to-back opening match exits at the Champion of Champions and UK Championship - albeit against inspired opposition - before going out to eventual winner Mark Allen in the semi-finals of the Riyadh Season Championship just before Christmas.

Where this latest episode leaves O'Sullivan, we don't know, but he is scheduled to face fellow 'Class of 92' member John Higgins in the opening match of the 2025 Masters this Sunday afternoon in a blockbuster tie. The tasty encounter comes three decades on from when O'Sullivan and Higgins contested the 1995 Masters final as teenagers.

For information on the ongoing 2025 Championship League Snooker Invitational, please visit here.