Ronnie O'Sullivan described his withdrawal from this year's Masters a "nightmare decision", saying he "lost the plot" after throwing his cue in the bin after pulling out of the Championship League last Thursday.
O'Sullivan, who won his eighth Masters title last year, was unable to defend his title after withdrawing on medical grounds last week after struggling at the Championship League event in Leicester. After losing three of his first four group games, O'Sullivan withdrew from his final game against Ali Carter and reportedly threw his cue in the bin.
Speaking in his role as a Eurosport pundit, O'Sullivan said: "It was a nightmare decision really to make. If you had asked me on Sunday 'was I ready to play?' I would have probably been okay to play.
"I've been on this three-week trip away playing, and I think I just exhausted myself.
"A lot of pressure, the buildup of all that got a bit too much. I lost the plot on Thursday, snapped my cue so that's unplayable.
"I mean I lost the plot on Thursday. Snapped my cue. So that is unplayable. I just knew at that moment in time, the right decision was not to play.
"It's such a big tournament, I thought that whoever would come in should at least have a couple of days’ notice."
O'Sullivan had been struggling with the tip of his cue in Leicester, slapping it on the table in frustration during his defeat to Robert Milkins. He confirmed that it had been thrown in the bin and he was trying out alternative cues.
"The cue was in the bin, one of those wheelie bins.
"My mate said: 'Look, we cannot leave that here.' So he got it out. Brought it with us.
"I have got a couple of other cues that I have to start practising with.
"Obviously there are some tournaments coming up. I’ll continue to play. So I need to get used to the cue now."
