Neil Robertson has been forced out of the Northern Ireland Open due to a ‘brutal respiratory virus’ which he felt was ‘one of the worst experiences’ of his life.
The former world champion has already landed the biggest title of the season so far, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters.
He was hoping to add to that success next week in Belfast, targeting the only one of the four Home Nations titles he is yet to win, having claimed the English, Welsh and Scottish titles.
However, a grim illness has ended his chances for this year and he will not be playing at the Waterfront Hall.
The Australian was playing at the Xi’an Grand Prix last week in China and reveals that he has been seriously ill since returning from that event.
The 43-year-old posted on X on Saturday evening: ‘Hey guys. After coming back from China I picked up a brutal respiratory virus in Xi’an that didn’t hit me until Sunday.
‘It made breathing anything above 40 per cent a challenge and bed ridden for almost six days. I’ve never experienced anything like it and can quite honestly say it was one of the worst experiences I’ve gone through.
‘I’m on the mend now but still quite a way to go, and for this reason I had no choice but to withdraw from Northern Ireland.
‘It’s the only Home Nation event I haven’t won so it was high on my agenda this season. It’s a shame to miss it but sadly had no choice🙏’
Robertson’s scheduled opponent, David Grace, had already come through qualifying to reach this stage, so the Yorkshireman will receive a bye to the last 32.
There he will take on the winner of Zhou Yuelong and Dylan Emery.
It is a blow for the tournament and the Belfast crowds after Ronnie O’Sullivan did not enter the tournament and Mark Williams pulled out earlier this week.
However, big beasts will still roam the baize in Belfast, including defending champion Kyren Wilson and last year’s runner-up Judd Trump.
The Warrior said of his title defence: ‘I want to keep hold of the silverware, it’s a great feeling going back as champion.
‘The Waterfront is a fantastic venue, last year was the first time I got far enough to experience it with just one table.
‘When you get that far the arena becomes extraordinary, with the balconies and tiers going into the distance, it’s a spectacular sight and that really inspired me.’
The likes of Mark Selby, world champion Zhao Xintong and John Higgins are all looking for their first piece of silverware of the season, while in-form Shaun Murphy is bidding for his third straight final after winning the British Open and reaching the final in Xi’an.
The tournament gets underway on Sunday morning, with the winner crowned the following Sunday.
Northern Ireland Open draw and schedule
Sunday October 19
10am
Chris Wakelin vs Lan Yuhao
1pm
Wu Yize vs Scott Donaldson
Noppon Saengkham vs Ashley Hugill
Zhao Xintong vs Jordan Brown
3pm
Mark Selby vs Ian Burns
Pang Junxu vs Robbie Williams
Hossein Vafaei vs Ben Woollaston
7pm
David Gilbert vs He Guoqiang
Jackson Page vs Steven Hallworth
9pm
Jack Lisowski vs Haris Tahir
John Higgins vs Louis Heathcote
Monday October 20
10am
Barry Hawkins vs Zak Surety
Elliot Slessor vs Fan Zhengyi
1pm
Yuan Sijun vs Daniel Wells
Zhou Yuelong vs Dylan Emery
3pm
Gary Wilson vs Chang Bingyu
Lei Peifan vs Aaron Hill
Shaun Murphy vs David Lilley
7pm
Stuart Bingham vs Jimmy Robertson
Jak Jones vs Martin O’Donnell
Mark Allen vs Robert Milkins
9pm
Joe O’Connor vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Tuesday October 21
10am
Zhang Anda vs Mark Davis
Stephen Maguire vs Luca Brecel
1pm
Kyren Wilson vs Oliver Lines
Si Jiahui vs Cheung Ka Wai
3pm
Matthew Selt vs Ryan Day
Ali Carter vs Stan Moody