O'Sullivan pulls out of Northern Ireland Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan has missed World Snooker's last two tournaments after being beaten by China's He Guoqiang in the first round of the English Open on 17 September

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan has pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open for medical reasons.

The Belfast event, which starts on Sunday, will be the third straight tournament the Englishman has missed after he sat out both the British Open and the Wuhan Open.

O'Sullivan's withdrawal was confirmed by the World Snooker Tour on Sunday night and his first-round opponent Long Zehuang receives a bye into the last 32.

The 48-year-old has not played competitively since losing in the first round of the English Open on 17 September.

The current world number five lost to Judd Trump in three successive NI Open finals between 2018 and 2020 but also withdrew before last year's event for medical reasons.