Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to make his return to competitive snooker at the Shanghai Masters in July, according to his manager Jason Francis.
The seven-time world champion has relocated to the Middle East following a tumultuous 2024/25 season that saw him struggle with equipment problems and withdraw from multiple tournaments.
"Ronnie's moved out to the Middle East for a while. You'll probably see him first in Shanghai," Francis told the media about the prestigious invitational event beginning on July 28.
The 49-year-old's decision to base himself abroad comes after a campaign marred by controversy, including an incident where he broke his cue in frustration and subsequently pulled out of defending his Masters title at Alexandra Palace.
O'Sullivan's difficulties reached a breaking point during a Championship League round in January when he snapped his cue in anger and disposed of it.
The outburst led to his withdrawal from the Masters at Alexandra Palace, where he had been scheduled to defend his title.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been frustrated with his play last season
GettyA string of late tournament cancellations followed, leaving supporters frustrated in their attempts to watch the snooker icon compete.
The Rocket eventually returned to action at the World Championship in April, equipped with a new cue but still experiencing equipment difficulties.
Despite these ongoing issues, he managed to reach the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Zhao Xintong.
Following his Crucible exit, O'Sullivan announced his intention to relocate to the Middle East, where he operates a snooker academy in Saudi Arabia.
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Francis revealed that O'Sullivan will adopt a selective approach to his tournament schedule whilst ensuring adequate preparation for the events he enters.
"You won't see Ronnie play a full schedule [this season] but I think you'll see him try and properly prepare for the tournaments he plays in," he told the Express.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has left the UK to get away from the public attention
GETTYThe move abroad appears to offer O'Sullivan respite from the constant public attention he faces in Britain.
"You're talking about someone who can't go to the shop without being asked for a selfie, a photo. Where he is, he's finding a life a little bit quieter at the moment," Francis said.
Reports suggest O'Sullivan has reconciled with actress Laila Rouass after their split nine months ago, with the couple allegedly planning to relocate to Dubai, situated two hours from his Riyadh academy.
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Francis praised O'Sullivan's World Championship performance as "absolutely incredible", particularly given his preparation difficulties. "He didn't even have a cue a few weeks before!" the manager noted.
Despite losing all eight frames in one session against Zhao Xintong, Francis believed O'Sullivan remained competitive throughout. "Apart from one bad session, he was still toe to toe with him," he said.
His manager has recognised he could be unpredictable with his return
PALooking ahead, Francis expects O'Sullivan to maintain his commercial appeal despite approaching his 50th birthday in December. "He'll still be the sport's most commercial player in the short-term," Francis stated.
The manager acknowledged the unpredictable nature of O'Sullivan's career, adding: "Ronnie's Ronnie. He'll decide when he wants to play and everyone knows he can come from nowhere to win a major tournament."
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