Neil Robertson and Mark Selby withdraw from next week's Turkish Masters for personal reasons
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Updated 04/03/2022 at 13:44 GMT
The Turkish Masters is on the snooker calendar for the first time, with the event taking place in the holiday resort of Antalya. It will not feature two of the biggest names in snooker, as Mark Selby and Neil Robertson have elected to withdraw for personal reasons. Judd Trump will be the star attraction, with Ronnie O'Sullivan also absent.
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Neil Robertson and Mark Selby have withdrawn from next week’s Turkish Masters in Antalya.
Snooker will break new ground when the tour heads to the sunny climes of Antalya for the first time, after the event was cancelled last year on account of coronavirus restrictions.
A £500,000 prize fund is up for grabs, but world No. 1 Selby and three-time winner in the 2021/22 campaign Robertson will not be in the field.
Robertson, speaking to World Snooker, said: “I want to apologise to all fans in Turkey and I hope I will be able to play in this event next year. I wish the tournament every success.”
Selby added: “It’s fantastic for snooker that we are going to a new territory and just unfortunate that this has come at the wrong time for me due to the challenges I am currently facing. I wish every success to the event and our partners in Turkey.”
Selby, who has admitted to an ongoing battle with his mental health, was due to face Wu Yize who will now take on Haydon Pinhey on Monday.
Robertson had been slated to face Iulian Boiko, but his place in the draw will be taken by Simon Blackwell.
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