The way the season has gone so far, this is a legitimate question but Stephen Hendry believes he will and he explains why as reported here by Phil Haigh
Will Ronnie O’Sullivan play at the Masters? Stephen Hendry reveals all
by Phil Haigh
Ronnie O’Sullivan has been handed a very tough draw at the Masters (Picture: Getty Images)
Stephen Hendry says Ronnie O’Sullivan will be playing at the Masters next month, after the Rocket had cast doubt on his participation.
The 50-year-old has been drawn to play Neil Robertson in a blockbuster opening round at Alexandra Palace in January.
The draw came after there were mixed messages from O’Sullivan on the tournament, initially saying he was unlikely to play.
Speaking to talkSPORT in September, he said: ‘I probably won’t play the Masters this year.
‘I moved to Dubai, a lot of my work is in China and the Middle East so it made sense to be near. The jet lag was crucifying. It’s not that easy to just get on a plane and come back to the UK.
‘I think I’m just going to play the UK Championship, hopefully the Tour Championship if I’ve done enough, which I think I have because I did well in Saudi. Then the World Championship, it would be nice to win that one more time before I snap another cue.’
The Rocket played at the UK Championship last week but suffered a first round exit at the hands of Zhou Yuelong.
Asked after the defeat if he would play at Alexandra Palace, he told the BBC: ‘I’ll have a nice Christmas, enjoy that and see how I feel come January.’
Asked the same question in a press conference, he said: ‘Hopefully. I’d like to. We’ll see.’
It now seems that the Rocket will land in north London, with Hendry firm that we will see the O’Sullivan vs Robertson clash on January 14.
Asked on his Cue TipsYouTube channel if O’Sullivan will be playing at the Masters, Hendry said: ‘Well he is playing. He requested to play late, I think, so he’s playing Neil on Wednesday night.
‘So yeah, Ronnie is playing in the Masters. If he doesn’t play the tournament is lacking, isn’t it?’
In what has been a difficult campaign so far for O’Sullivan, he will face a huge test in Robertson in the opening round at Ally Pally.
The Thunder from Down Under beat the Rocket in the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, which was the only event in which O’Sullivan has been beyond the quarter-finals this campaign.
O’Sullivan withdrew from the 2025 Masters after snapping his cue shortly before the event out of frustration with his game.
If he does play next month then it will be the first time playing in the tournament since he won it for an eighth time in 2024, beating Ali Carter in the final.
Stephen Hendry is closest to O’Sullivan’s record Masters tally, with six wins, while no other player has won the event more than three times.
Hopefully, Stephen will be proved right, and, hopefully, Ronnie will be able to play well.
That’s what that article says. I’m not sure what that means. Probably just that he said he would prefer not to play in the first days… He lives in Dubai. He can’t exactly go home if he has a 3 or 4 day gap in his schedule. Judd Trump is in the same situation and also plays on the last day of round 1.
Oh yeah, forgot about that the hotel prices in England are so much higher in relation than the house prices in Dubai.
No, joking aside, I absolutely and obviously did notice already that Ronnie is extremely often scheduled late and/or held over. But I suspected this is more handled like a “secret favour” from WST for Ronnie’s contribution to the game. But alright, let him decide.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
Just please don’t make people buy tickets to see him only to end up with Wakelin instead.
He…………………..requested…….to play late???????
That’s what that article says. I’m not sure what that means. Probably just that he said he would prefer not to play in the first days… He lives in Dubai. He can’t exactly go home if he has a 3 or 4 day gap in his schedule. Judd Trump is in the same situation and also plays on the last day of round 1.
Oh yeah, forgot about that the hotel prices in England are so much higher in relation than the house prices in Dubai.
No, joking aside, I absolutely and obviously did notice already that Ronnie is extremely often scheduled late and/or held over. But I suspected this is more handled like a “secret favour” from WST for Ronnie’s contribution to the game. But alright, let him decide.