Ronnie O'Sullivan, who failed to defend his UK Championship title in Bournemouth because of physical and mental exhaustion, hopes to make a comeback in the Irish Open at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on December 15th.

O'Sullivan, who celebrates his 23rd birthday on Saturday, yesterday pulled out of next month's German Masters, but his manager Ian Doyle was confident that he would play in Ireland's first official ranking event.

"Ronnie is anxious to play in Dublin and subject to getting the all clear from the medical people, I've no objection," said Doyle yesterday. "I must admit I spoke to him today, and he sounded a lot brighter."

O'Sullivan, who is scheduled to meet Pontefract's Jimmy Michie in the Irish Open, won the Irish Masters at Goffs last season, but was later stripped of the title and had to forfeit his prize money of £61,000 after testing positive for cannibis.

O'Sullivan was due to play Steve Davis or Scotsman Alan McManus in his first match of the invitation tournament in Germany.