Ronnie O’Sullivan is set to make a comeback at the German Masters in January after a nine-year hiatus from the event. Known as “The Rocket,” O’Sullivan hasn’t participated in the main stages of the tournament since 2017 but is now included in the draw competing for the £550,000 prize money.
Following a break from the event since his last appearance in Berlin nine years ago, O’Sullivan attempted to qualify for the 2022 tournament but was defeated 5-0 by Hossein Vafaei in Cannock, preventing his entry into the German Masters.
The 50-year-old will kick off his campaign against Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang, or Long Zehuang. As one of the top 16 seeds, O’Sullivan is ready to compete, with Ding Junhui being the only notable absentee from the draw, which is available 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 a thrilling 10-9 victory over Barry Hawkins in the previous edition. Alongside Wilson, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, and Shaun Murphy are among the contenders in the competition.
O’Sullivan, however, has a track record of last-minute withdrawals from events, raising some uncertainty about his participation in 2026. The seven-time world champion withdrew from the British Open in September citing “medical reasons” and also opted out of the Wuhan Open the month prior.
In early 2025, O’Sullivan withdrew from the German Masters, the Masters, and Championship League matches to prioritize his mental well-being, stating, “I’ve been trying to prioritize my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.”
Ranked eighth globally, O’Sullivan has yet to secure a ranking event win in the ongoing 2025/26 season. Following his marriage to actress Laila Rouass in June, he relocated from Essex to Dubai in November, revealing struggles with jet lag due to frequent work commitments in the Middle East and China.
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