Ronnie O'Sullivan is jetting off for a mystery Christmas trip to Dubai after a shock English Open defeat in his last match of the year.
The Rocket was stunned by regular practice partner Martin Gould in the second round as he crash out of his home tournament at the Brentwood centre in Essex.
Gould blitzed O'Sullivan 4-1 to seal his first ever victory over the seven-time world champion in a major ranking tournament.
And after his punditry duties at the event, O'Sullivan will pack his bags and enjoy a sunshine break in Dubai over the festive period ahead of January's Masters at Alexandra Palace.
The 47-year-old detailed his plans for a 10-day holiday, but joked that he had to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement as he mysteriously refused to name the family that were hosting him in the Middle East.
“I will celebrate Christmas sitting in Dubai, getting some sun, chilling out, going to the gym and doing a bit of running," up-beat O'Sullivan said.
“I don’t normally go away but it’s a warm-weather break for me this year. I have been invited out there and I’ll be there for 10 days. And I’ll be back in time for the Masters in January.
"It’s a family that have invited me but I can’t mention no names I’ll get in trouble, I think I had to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement!"
The defeat to Gould marks the end of a historic year on the baize for O'Sullivan, who banished all doubt in snooker's greatest-of-all-time debate by equalling Stephen Hendry's record of seven Crucible crowns in May.
And his English Open exit also spells the end of a documentary crew following his every move - with a highly-anticipated movie set on the Rocket set to be released in 2023.
“The documentary crew were here again today for the last time at a tournament, that is all coming to an end – a last couple of bits," O'Sullivan added.
“It is all getting wrapped up and I have spent a lot of time with them over the past year. It has been fun. There was the big high of the seventh world title, and today I have lost in the last 32 of the English Open."
