In shocking news for the snooker community, world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed that he would not be competing in the forthcoming Welsh Open in Llandudno. He blames his decision on crippling stage fright and nervousness. Despite having a fantastic season marked by notable victories at the UK Championship, the Masters, and the World Grand Prix, O’Sullivan has suffered this setback.O’Sullivan revealed his long-standing struggle with stage fear in a heartfelt letter to his fans on X. He acknowledges that this problem has occasionally dogged his career. “Good morning, folks. I wanted to inform you that I will not be playing in Llandudno the following week. It’s difficult to describe, but I’ve occasionally had stage fright caused by nervousness for years,” O’Sullivan said, revealing the difficulties in his personal life that have eclipsed his accomplishments in his career. He apologized even more to the supporters who had bought tickets in expectation of his performance, saying that his nervousness prevented him from competing.In spite of his resignation from the Welsh Open, O’Sullivan has stated that he plans to continue being involved with the championship through his position with Eurosport, providing some comfort to those who are disappointed by his absence.
O’Sullivan’s season has not been without incident. After winning the Masters final in January, he unleashed a profanity-filled tirade against rival Ali Carter. The sport’s governing body is now looking into his remarks regarding unofficial exhibition matches. O’Sullivan called Carter “a fucking nightmare” in the heat of the moment, remarks that have since clouded his well-deserved victory.
