Ronnie O'Sulllivan has pulled out of the remainder of the 2012/13 snooker season.
The reigning World Champion will not be defending the title this year due to "personal issues he needs to resolve".
After winning his fourth title in May this year, O'Sullivan announced he would be taking a six-month break from the sport.
He has recently played in several low-profile events, but withdrew from last week’s International Championship in China.
O'Sullivan has spoken to the World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn about his decision.
Speaking to Sky News, Hearn suggested 'The Rocket' might not be returning to professional snooker at all.
"If he doesn't feel that he can't reach the levels that he sets himself we might not see him again, in which case ... we have to move on," he explained.
"We have an awful lot of talent out there and it's their time to entertain people."
Speaking on behalf of World Snooker, he added: "We wish him the very best for the future and we wait to see what happens with him."
