O'Sullivan withdraws from Welsh Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan is a four-time winner of the Welsh Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from this week's Welsh Open in Llandudno.

The seven-time world champion was expected to return to competition in north Wales having missed the German Masters, the Masters and matches in the Championship League.

O'Sullivan, 49, was due to play in the first round against Jamie Clarke on Tuesday afternoon.

Tournament organisers World Snooker Tour gave no reason for O'Sullivan's withdrawal but confirmed Wales' Clarke would receive a bye into round two.

Englishman O'Sullivan has now withdrawn from six ranking tournaments this season.

His next event is expected to be the World Open in Yushan, China at the end of this month.

'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 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