Ricky Walden's German Masters is over after the snooker star was hospitalised mere hours before his anticipated last-16 match against Barry Hawkins.

The 42-year-old, who had been on an impressive winning streak, defeating Ryan Day and Dylan Emery, was forced to withdraw due to medical issues, with details of his condition remaining under wraps.

A statement released by the World Snooker Tour confirmed: "Ricky Walden has withdrawn from the ongoing Machineseeker German Masters on medical grounds."

Commenting on the unfortunate development, snooker commentator Rolf Kalb shared: "Bad news. Ricky Walden had to be taken to hospital last night and was therefore forced to withdraw from the German Masters."

Walden's forfeit now paves the way for Hawkins to advance uncontested into the quarter-finals, where he will face either Wu Yize or Alexander Ursenbacher.

Walden's health setback marks him missing out on a potential first quarter-final slot since the 2023 Northern Ireland Open.

Meanwhile, fellow player Mark Allen lamented his own exit from the tournament on social media, writing in a post accompanied by a laughing emoji.: "Not to be in this year's German Masters.

"Well done to Wu. If anyone sees me back at this event under current conditions has permission to tell me off. Thanks in advance."

Defending champion Judd Trump is set to continue his quest for glory on Thursday evening as he faces off against Neil Robertson.

Trump has been vocal about elevating the status of the tournament within the tour, saying before kicking off his title defence: "I'd like to have seen it grow somehow, I think the tournament deserves to be bigger than it is.

"I don't think it should be on a par [in terms of prize money] with some of the other events like the Home Nations, although Northern Ireland is the exception.

"I think Germany should be up there, just behind the UK [Championship], but it's not really gone anywhere, it's stagnated a little bit. There should be a few changes to make a bit bigger than it is because the crowd over there deserve it.

"It's a little bit disappointing because I feel like they could even hold the Tour Championship or something over there. The crowd deserve something bigger. It's excellent to have a tournament there, but the fans deserve a bigger, more prestigious event."

This article originally appeared on the Mirror