Ronnie O’Sullivan pulls out of Championship League ahead of World Masters of Snooker event in Saudi Arabia

Ronnie O’Sullivan will take no further part in the Championship League in Leicester on Thursday after withdrawing from the event ahead of his trip to Saudi Arabia.

O’Sullivan’s decision to quit the invitational event means Jones will head the section on three straight wins heading for the second day with Slessor, O’Connor, Craigie, Pang Junxu and Jordan Brown also battling it out on Thursday.

“Very excited to be playing in the World Masters of Snooker!,” O’Sullivan recently wrote on social media. “Can’t wait to get out there and play in Saudi Arabia for the first time!”

World No. 40 Jones topped the section on Wednesday – including a 3-0 victory over O’Sullivan boosted by a 129 in the opening frame – with Rocket Ronnie finishing his day on two points alongside O’Connor and Brown. The top four reach the semi-finals on Thursday evening.

Slessor and Pang have a solitary point with Craigie losing all four of his matches to sit bottom of the group ahead of the concluding group games.

Stuart Bingham, Chris Wakelin, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins and Kyren Wilson have already booked their place in the winners’ group (March 12-13).

The winner of the Championship League also earns a spot in the Champion of Champions later this year.