Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the upcoming German Masters tournament in January after a hiatus of nine years. Popularly known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan has not participated in the main stages of the event since 2017 but is now included in the draw competing for a prize of £550,000.
Having refrained from entering or withdrawing from the tournament since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan had attempted to qualify in 2022 but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in Cannock, preventing his journey to Germany.
The 50-year-old snooker ace will kick off his match against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang as one of the top 16 seeds, with Ding Junhui being the only absentee from the lineup, as indicated on the German Masters’ official website.
Scheduled to commence on January 26 at the Tempodrom in Berlin, the tournament will see Kyren Wilson defending his title after clinching a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins earlier this year. With past champions like Judd Trump, Mark Selby, and Neil Robertson in the mix, the competition promises to be intense.
Despite his track record of last-minute withdrawals, followers are hopeful for O’Sullivan’s appearance in 2026. The seven-time world champion withdrew from the British Open due to health reasons in September and had previously pulled out of the Wuhan Open. In 2025, O’Sullivan opted out of several events to focus on his mental well-being.
Ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has yet to secure a ranking event win in the current season of 2025/26. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, O’Sullivan relocated from Essex to Dubai to better manage his international commitments.
Sky has announced a reduced price for its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the upcoming season, offering a significant discount and a wide range of live matches across various leagues, including the Premier League and EFL. Additionally, Sky will broadcast over 200 live Premier League games in the upcoming season, providing fans with more coverage than before.