Ronnie O'Sullivan breaks silence after he pulled out of Welsh Open amid health concerns

Snooker star Ronnie O'Sullivan has apologised to fans after withdrawing from his scheduled return at the Welsh Open.

O'Sullivan was set to begin his campaign in Llandudno against Jamie Clarke, but made a last-minute decision to drop out of the tournament, giving Clarke a bye to the next round. The snooker icon similarly pulled out of the Masters for health reasons last month.

In a statement on social media, O'Sullivan said: "I realise plenty of people who bought tickets to some recent snooker events will have been frustrated when I withdrew, 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."

"It's never an easy decision and I hate letting people down," he added. "I'm doing what I can to get back to my best, and I'm grateful for all your support and understanding."

Following O'Sullivan's message, many fans expressed their support. One wrote: "You are the champ, and whenever you will come back, you will be stronger than ever."

Another replied: "You focus on getting well and feeling well. That's all that matters - that's life. Snooker is a small part of it and I'm sure people will have seen plenty of talent at those events. Get well and lift the world title again."

A third supporter commented: "Don't be sorry, you have to look after yourself. People may be gutted they won't get to see you play but I bet 99% would place your wellbeing above that disappointment. Look forward to seeing you in future tournaments when you're feeling better Ronnie."

O'Sullivan's withdrawal saw Clarke automatically progress from the round of 64, setting up a