Alex Higgins' eagerly anticipated comeback after six years in sport's wilderness is off.
The twice former world champion was due to compete in the £40,000 Benson & Hedges Championship in Mansfield next Wednesday.
Higgins, 53, was scheduled to face local youngster Lee Spick but has now informed snooker's governing body that he will not make the match.
Higgins' solicitor has confirmed the Belfast-born professional is officially withdrawing - it is thought because of his need to undergo extensive dental treatment.
However, Higgins is still optimistic he can compete at next month's Embassy World Championship qualifiers at the Manhattan's Snooker Club in Harrogate.
News of the Hurricane's aborted comeback will disappoint his many fans. Tickets for next week's game sold out within hours of them being made available and Spick now receives a by into round three.
Higgins has not competed in a professional tournament since 1997 since when he has undergone major surgery to remove a cancerous lymph node from his neck.
PA