Ronnie O'Sullivan opponent blasts snooker legend for pulling out of tournament

12 December 2023 , 08:55

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Ronnie O'Sullivan opponent blasts snooker legend for pulling out of tournament

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been called "disrespectful" after pulling out of the Scottish Open at short notice.

O'Sullivan was due to face 19-year-old Liam Graham in a first round game on Monday, but the Rocket withdrew from the event due to "medical reasons" mere hours before the match was due to take place.

And Graham was not happy with O'Sullivan's actions, having been "really looking forward" to testing himself against the seven-time world champion. A number of family and friends had also travelled to the Meadowbank Centre to watch him face O'Sullivan and were left disappointed, with Graham instead given a bye into the next round.

"It's disrespectful what he's done, it's not right," Graham told the Daily Record. "A lot of people took time off work to come and watch today and it's disappointing.

"At the end of the day I want to play the best players in the world and I was really looking forward to it. I had a lot of people coming to watch and it's really disappointing for them. It's not surprising given the things he does.

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"I found out when I got to the venue this morning. I didn't have much prior warning, I think he pulled out very late. I would have stayed at home and all the people who have travelled to watch me would have come another day as well."

Graham is now set to face Belgian teenager Ben Mertens in the last 64. "It's been a tough start to the season for me, I haven't really had anywhere to practice," Graham added.

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been branded "disrespectful" (AFP via Getty Images)

"I need the ranking points from this event and hopefully I can have a good run. I haven't really had anywhere proper to practice as a base. But I've only really got myself settled now at Parklands Country Club in Glasgow."

O'Sullivan, meanwhile, has now pulled out of six different events this season amid a spat with snooker's governing body, having threatened to quit the sport if he is not allowed to fulfil lucrative commitments in China.

"I've not spoken to anyone at World Snooker for 10 years and I won't reach out to them ever again," he said last month. " I just can't fit in with an organisation who just want you to be the same as everyone else, it's just not going to work for me. I don't want to completely turn my back on snooker, but I have to secure the lives of my kids, my family and my other half."

Matthew Cooper