Neck problems force Ronnie O'Sullivan to pull out of Australian event

Ronnie O'Sullivan has returned to the UK after pulling out of the Australian Goldfields Open. Photograph: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from next week's Australian Goldfields Open after suffering neck and back problems on the first leg of his flight from the UK. The three-times world champion, who has slipped to ninth in the world rankings, was due to play Dominic Dale in the last 32 in Bendigo, but Dale will now play the Australian wildcard Steve Mifsud.

A statement from World Snooker said: "Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn for medical reasons. He completed the first part of the journey to Bangkok, but having suffered from neck and back problems on the plane he has decided to return to the UK for medical treatment rather than taking the flight to Melbourne."

The tournament is the first ranking event to be held in Australia and is part of the attempt by the World Snooker chairman, Barry Hearn, to expand snooker's global reach.

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