The Snooker International Championship is currently in turmoil after five top players pulled out of the tournament. The ranking event begins on November 2 and runs until November 9 in Nanjing, China.

Despite it being a huge competition, five big names have already confirmed they will not be featuring at the South New City National Fitness Center. Mark Williams was the first to pull out with illness, while Ali Carter also decided he will not be participating as a result of personal reasons. BBC pundit and snooker icon Ken Doherty will also not compete in the competition as a result of illness. Meanwhile, World No. 95 Sam Craigie has also withdrawn from the event as a result of medical reasons, while No. 24 David Gilbert has also made himself unavailable for personal reasons.

Doherty's decision not to compete means 2012 and 2018 runner-up Neil Robertson has been granted a bye into the last 32. Moreover, because of Craigie and Gilbert's withdrawals, Jimmy Robertson and one of Thepchiya Un-Nooh or Xu Jiarui will also be given safe passage into the next round.

When Williams opted to not compete, he clarified his reasoning in a social media post to his followers. He wrote: "Man down. No International Championship for me.

"Respiratory infection. Another week doing nothing. Champion of Champions next stop, fingers crossed."

He will therefore be replaced by Anthony McGill of Scotland, while Irish prodigy Aaron Hill has been drafted in as a late replacement for Carter. Williams will be hoping he is better in time for the Champion of Champions tournament in Leicester, which starts on November 10 and runs until November 16.

However, there will still be many top players competing in China. Ding Junhui, who won the event last year, will be the favourite and top seed in his home country. Fellow countryman Zhao Xintong will also provide stiff competition, a matter of months after winning the World Snooker Championship.

Meanwhile, Mark Selby will be the 11th seed and Ronnie O'Sullivan will also be in the draw. The first prize this year is a handsome cheque for £175,000.

O'Sullivan, who is the current World No. 5, faces the 76th seed Allan Taylor in his first match. The Rocket has only won the International Championship once, when he overcame Judd Trump 10-5 in the final in 2017.

Fresh off winning the Northern Ireland Open, Jack Lisowski will also be competing in China. Lisowski, who beat Trump 9-8 in the final in Belfast, will face Louis Heathcote in his first round match.