Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from season's first big event in Shanghai

Ronnie O'Sullivan, the defending champion, has withdrawn from next week's Shanghai Masters, the season's first major ranking event. The three-times world champion also withdrew from last weekend's Paul Hunter Classic in Fürth, Germany, one of the new minor ranking tournaments introduced to the circuit this season. Last night, though, he made two centuries, 119 and 103, in drawing 3-3 with Marco Fu at Southampton on the opening night of snooker's Premier League. O'Sullivan's withdrawals are attributed to family reasons. "I have a very young family and at this moment I need to spend more time with them," he said.