Ronnie O’Sullivan has apparently withdrawn from the Championship League Snooker draw – the primary rating occasion of the 2023/24 season.

The Rocket had been because of take part in Group 1 of the competitors subsequent week on the Morningside Area in Leicester.

However in response to the official Championship League Snooker web site, Michael Holt has now changed O’Sullivan within the draw.

Former Snooker Shoot Out champion Holt will as a substitute tackle Scott Donaldson, Alfie Burden, and Rod Lawler.

The winner of the primary round-robin section will advance to the final 32 and Stage Two of the event later in July.

Though no motive has been given to date, it’ll come as a shock to few to see O’Sullivan pull out of proceedings.

Certainly, it was most likely extra stunning that the world primary entered within the first place contemplating his general lack of enthusiasm for the occasion up to now.

O’Sullivan has not too long ago been competing in exhibitions in China, along with selling upcoming exhibition tournaments not accredited with the World Snooker Tour.

The Englishman’s father – Ronnie O’Sullivan Sr. – tweeted this week a video of his son having fun with the glitz and glamour related along with his invitation to play in Asia once more.

“Can’t wait to get again to the UK and play a qualifying match some the place up north behind (a) bowling alley,” O’Sullivan Sr. sarcastically quipped in an obvious dig on the WST.

It’s unknown when O’Sullivan Jr. will probably be first seen throughout the fledgling 2023/24 marketing campaign, however followers will at the very least have to attend till the European Masters on the finish of August.

In the meantime, Pang Junxu and Lengthy Zehuang reached the final 32 of Championship League Snooker by topping their respective teams within the draw on Thursday.

Pang, the WST Traditional runner-up from final season, started his 2023/24 season in robust trend with an undefeated report from Group 24.

The 23 year-old misplaced solely two frames as he reeled off consecutive victories over Stan Moody, Hammad Miah, and Wu Yize.

Lengthy’s first place in Group 7 was arguably extra spectacular, nonetheless, contemplating it was his first outing as knowledgeable on the primary tour.

Lengthy graduated to the professional ranks because of his performances on the CBSA China Tour over the past time period.

It didn’t take him lengthy to announce himself on the circuit, backing up his draw with Jackson Web page with a powerful 3-1 defeat of pre-group favorite Ali Carter.

Lengthy then overcame newbie Ryan Davies in his final round-robin fixture to complete with seven factors from a attainable 9.

Pang Junxu and Lengthy Zehuang will characteristic once more within the competitors when Stage Two takes place later in July.

On Friday, Stage One continues on the Morningside Area with Welsh Open champion Robert Milkins getting into the fray in Group 8 alongside Dominic Dale, Muhammad Asif, and Alex Taubman.

Group 23 will even be contested with Fan Zhengyi being joined by Sam Craigie, Fergal O’Brien, and Ahmed Aly Elsayed.

Stage 1 draw

Featured picture credit score: WST