Ronnie O’Sullivan: Four-time champion pulls out of Welsh Open

‘The Rocket’ has won 41 ranking events, including seven world titles, during a storied career since turning professional in 1992.

The defending champion for January’s Masters, he withdrew on medical grounds, later citing exhaustion after a series of exhibition matches.

He also pulled out of the Championship League before his final group game after becoming frustrated with his performance in a 3-2 loss to Robert Milkins.

O’Sullivan played four matches in that low-profile competition, losing three of them, and struck his cue against the table after missing an easy pink against Milkins.

While he quickly apologised to the referee and his opponent, there were reports from Leicester, external that he later threw his cue into a bin before it was retrieved.

You can watch BBC coverage of the Welsh Open live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two Wales, the Red Button and the BBC Sport website