Ronnie O'Sullivan confirms his withdrawal from the Champion of Champions event to look after his 'mental health', as world number one admits to feeling 'mentally drained'

Ronnie O'Sullivan has confirmed his withdrawal from the Champion of Champions event in a bid to look after his 'mental health'. 

It comes after his recent documentary shed light on how O'Sullivan has battled addiction to drink and drugs, as well as depression, early on in his career.

Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, O'Sullivan wrote: 'Hi guys, just wanted to let you know I’m unfortunately withdrawing from the Champions of champions event tomorrow. 

'Mentally I feel a bit drained and stressed and I want to look after my mental health and my body. I’m sorry to all the fans but I’ll be back stronger'.

O'Sullivan has opted to withdraw from the 13th edition of the Champion of Champions - where the winner is awarded £150,000 from a £440,000 prize fund.

Just last month, O'Sullivan opened up on his battles with addiction and fighting his inner demons in a new access-all-areas documentary made by David Beckham's film company.

In the trailer, he is seen saying: 'My addictions are good in many ways because it drives me on - but it needs to be managed.

'People could see that I was imploding. I wasn't very good at having this stuff locked inside me.

'I never want to go to those dark places, but sometimes you have to.'

His wife Laila says: 'There is just so much self-criticism involved and that is just soul-destroying.'

'The Rocket' allowed the cameras to follow him everywhere during his bid to equal Stephen Hendry's record of seven modern era Snooker World Championship titles.

O'Sullivan also made headlines last month after launching a blistering attack on UK snooker events with the seven-time world champion comparing them to a car boot sale. 

O'Sullivan, during the English Open, expressed his frustration at the quality of venues used for UK competitions, as he competed in his first ranking event of the season.

The 47-year-old suggested post-match that he will only play a handful of domestic events this season.

‘I am not saying this is a terrible tournament. But the venues, people walking up and down in the crowd,' O'Sullivan said, as per the Sun.

'I’d like to see someone get hold of a good promoter, get hold of the tournaments and make them a bit better. Nothing has really changed in 12 years.

‘When we had tobacco sponsors, they were amazing, they really went out of their way to make all the players feel special.

‘Don’t just ask me, go and ask [Stephen] Hendry, go and ask some of the players who played then with tobacco sponsors. Just don’t take my word for it.

‘Every event was like a special event. Now, it’s just, I don’t know what it is. It’s like a car boot sale. I have always said, it’s like a car boot sale.’

More to follow...