Jimmy White provides update on Ronnie O’Sullivan as snooker legend’s mysterious absence from the sport continues

Snooker star Jimmy White has hinted at a potential return to the sport for Ronnie O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan, 49, has been mysteriously absent in recent times after withdrawing from a string of high profile tournaments so far in 2025 including the Masters, German Masters and Welsh Open.

In fact, the seven-time world champion has not played on the tour since he withdrew midway through the Championship League on January 9 when he snapped his cue after losing four of his five matches. 

This has sparked speculation that O’Sullivan could retire, although he released a statement last week apologising for his absence, which he said had been due to the need to prioritise his mental health. 

And, White, who is a close friend of O’Sullivan, provided an update on the 49-year-old and tipped him to return soon.

‘He needs some match practice before the World Championship,’ White told Eurosport. ‘He needs to get amongst it.

Snooker star Jimmy White has hinted at a potential return to the sport for Ronnie O’Sullivan

O’Sullivan hasn’t played in weeks and has withdrawn from a series of high profile tournaments

White tipped O’Sullivan to return to action soon and said he had been hearing rumours about it

‘I have heard he has a good cue he is happy with, [but] I am only hearing whispers.’

White went onto claim that if O’Sullivan is to return for the World Snooker Championship, which begins on April 19, he needs to get back into competitive action soon to ensure he has a chance of success at The Crucible.

‘He needs to be playing some tournaments to get some match practice under his belt,’ White added.

‘Saying that, do you remember when he did not play for a year, and then he came and won the World Championship (in 2013)? So as long as he is playing he has every chance.’

Meanwhile, taking to X last week, O’Sullivan gave an update to his fans after he pulled out of the Welsh Open in Llandudno on Tuesday, hours before he was scheduled to play his first-round match against Jamie Clarke.

‘I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew,’ he said in a statement.

‘So I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who’ve been disappointed with me having to pull out of those tournaments.

‘I’ve been trying to prioritise my health and well-being, which sometimes means making last-minute decisions not to play.

O’Sullivan released a statement last week explaining his absence and apologising to fans

‘It’s never an easy decision and I hate letting people down.

‘I’m doing what I can to get back to my best, and I’m grateful for all your support and understanding.’

That came after O’Sullivan cited exhaustion as his reason for missing the Masters last month having engaged in a gruelling series of exhibition events abroad.

He told Eurosport: ‘It was a nightmare decision really to make. I’ve obviously been on this three-week trip, away playing, and I think I just exhausted myself.

‘(There was) a lot of pressure while I was away and the build-up of all that kind of got too much.

‘I lost the plot on Thursday and snapped my cue so that’s unplayable, so I just knew at that moment in time, the right decision was not to play.’

The 49-year-old is next scheduled to compete in the World Open in Yushan at the end of this month.