Reigning champion Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from 2025 Masters snooker event

The World Snooker Tour released an official statement on its website on Friday morning saying: Neil Robertson has replaced Ronnie O'Sullivan in the draw for the upcoming Johnstone's Paint Masters.

Last year's champion O'Sullivan was due to face John Higgins in the opening match on Sunday afternoon, but has withdrawn on medical grounds.

Higgins will now face Robertson, who was ranked in 17th position at the seeding cutoff after the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship.

O'Sullivan won his latest Masters title here at the Alexandra Palace in London 12 months ago, where he recovered from 6-3 down in the final to deny Ali Carter 10-7.

Following a sparkling 2023/24 season that saw him win five titles - including the UK Championship and Masters - and named as the WST Player of the Year, this current 2024/25 campaign has been difficult for O'Sullivan.

The seven-time World Champion has yet to reach an event final this term, and went out first round at the Champion of Champions and UK Championship events a few weeks ago - albeit to inspired opponents. Just before Christmas, defending champion O'Sullivan won his opening match at the Riyadh Season Championship in the Middle East before being eliminated by eventual champion Mark Allen in the last four.

Over the festive period, O'Sullivan was on the baize in the Far East taking part in lucrative exhibitions where he won seven out of seven matches and seemed to be in good nick.

However, his return to competitive action did not go according to plan as he lost four of his five matches at the behind-closed-doors Championship League in Leicester, showed several signs of frustration, and withdrew from the tournament with one match still to play. It had been reported that O'Sullivan put his cue in a bin at the venue before leaving.

The next morning, it was announced that O'Sullivan had withdrawn from the upcoming Triple Crown event.

It’s not unusual for O’Sullivan to withdraw from events at fairly short notice - he has done so several times this season - but this latest example is perhaps worrying considering the magnitude of the event.

O'Sullivan was scheduled to face fellow 'Class of 92' member Higgins in this year's Masters curtain-raiser - 30 years on from when they met in the 1995 final as teenagers. However, Higgins will now play two-time Masters champion Robertson.

Who has replaced Ronnie O'Sullivan at the 2025 Masters? Why did Neil Robertson get the place?

Neil Robertson is Ronnie O'Sullivan's replacement at the 2025 Masters at the Alexandra Palace.

Australia's greatest-ever player was first in line to receive a spot at the £1 million-plus tournament should anyone withdraw.

Only the world's top 16 are initially invited to the Masters. The qualification cutoff for this year's Masters came following the conclusion of the previous Triple Crown event - the 2024 UK Championship which was completed in early December. The top 16 players from the world rankings at that point won invites to the 2025 Masters.

At that time, Robertson - who lifted the Masters trophy in 2012 and 2022 - was ranked 17th and just missed out. However, O'Sullivan's absence means he will once again be part of the one-table showcase which this year has a record top prize of £350,000.

For the 2025 Masters draw and match schedule, please visit here.