As is often the case with the overseas tournaments, world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan has withdrawn from the upcoming Bahrain Championship. Click below to read why…
As reported on Snooker Scene blog:
“With a great deal of regret I have decided to pull out of the Bahrain tournament.
“I have been very run down recently due to my hectic playing and promotional schedule, and my doctor has advised me to rest for a couple of weeks.
“I realise it is not good for me or the tournament if I am way below my best and don’t want to run the risk of exacerbating the problem and making myself more ill, potentially jeopardising the rest of the season, so I think it is right for me to take my doctor’s advice in the circumstances.
“I am very sorry not to be competing in Bahrain as I am sure the tournament will be a great success and I look forward to taking part in competitions there in the future.”
Whatever the reason for his absence, this creates an interesting situation as he was due to play Steve Davis in the last 32, but I am under the impression that Davis will also be withdrawing from the event in order to participate in the Premier League on November 13th. What happens now? Will Davis effectively move into the last 16 before being deemed to withdraw, gaining him an extra 500 ranking points? Will they both receive last 32 losers points? Either way it is good news for Marco Fu and Dominic Dale, the winner of that tie looks like effectively having a bye to the quarter-finals!
It is a shame for the tournament too that the game’s leading player will be absent, particularly with John Higgins, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui already out of the event. Hopefully the locals in Bahrain will still embrace the tournament and a the tournament will be a good one with the players that are taking part.
View the draw for the event here.