Former World Champion and World Number 1, Ronnie O’Sullivan has announced today that he has withdrawn from the Roewe Shanghai Masters due to personal reasons.

He told Worldsnooker.com that “This has been a very difficult decision to make, however I have a very young family and at this moment I need to spend more time with them. I’m truly sorry to my fans in China, I love meeting and playing in front of some of the most passionate people in the world. I very much look forward to returning to China soon.”

O’Sullivan who drew with Marco Fu 3-3 in last nights Premier League match was due to play the winner of Jamie Burnett and Tian Pengfei. The winner of this match will now receive a bye into the last 16.

Although the situation is not ideal this close to the first main ranking of the season WPBSA Chairman Barry Hearn added, “”It’s very disappointing for his fans in China but we understand the personal reasons behind Ronnie’s withdrawal.”

The Roewe Shanghai Masters takes place from the 6th-11th of September and O’Sullivan would have been the defending champion.

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