Ronnie O’Sullivan in the draw for rare appearance at popular European event

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s name is in the draw for the German Masters in January, in what would be a rare appearance in the popular event.

The Rocket has not played at the main stages of the German Masters in Berlin since 2017, when he was beaten in the last 32 by Mark King.

He did play in the 2022 event but lost 5-0 to Hossein Vafaei in the opening round of qualifying in Cannock.

Otherwise the 50-year-old has either not entered or withdrawn since that lats trip to Germany in 2017 but there is hope for the Berlin crowd that he will make a return in January.

There are two rounds of qualifying before the main stages, but the top 16 seeds are held over to Berlin and O’Sullivan is among them in the draw.

Only Ding Junhui is absent of the world’s top 16, with Chris Wakelin taking a seeded spot as a result of being world number 17.

The Rocket is due to face Haris Tahir, Zhao Hanyang or Long Zehuang in his Berlin opener.

Supporters in Germany may not be getting too excited about the prospect of seeing the Rocket just yet, given he has pulled out after entering the draw in the past, including last season.

The seven-time world champion does actually have a decent history in the event, if you go back far enough.

He won the 1996 German Open in Osnabruck, before it became the German Masters, which he also won in 2012.

Kyren Wilson triumphed in Berlin last season, beating Barry Hawkins 10-9 in a superb final to lift the German Masters trophy for a second time.

Judd Trump has also enjoyed plenty of success in this event, winning three of the last six editions.

Wilson will play Dylan Emery, Florian Nuessle or Rob Milkins in his Berlin opener, while Trump will face Cheung Ka Wai, Ng On Yee or David Lilley.

The likes of Mark Selby, world champion Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Shaun Murphy are all in the draw, looking to add to the tournament wins they have already managed this season.

The qualifying rounds are played in Sheffield from January 5-8, with the main stages taking place at the iconic Tempodrom from January 26 to February 1.

The full draw is available here.

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