Ronnie O’Sullivan suffers shock exit at UK Championship
Ronnie O’Sullivan has suffered a stunning first-round exit at the UK Championship, losing 6-4 to China’s Zhou Yuelong at York Barbican, reports BritPanorama.
This defeat marks the first time the 27-year-old Zhou has beaten the eight-time champion, who had previously won all seven of their past encounters. Three of those victories came at this same tournament, making Zhou’s breakthrough all the more significant.
O’Sullivan, who will celebrate his 50th birthday on Friday, was competing in his first UK tournament since being eliminated by Zhao Xintong in the World Championship semi-finals at the Crucible in May. Throughout the contest, the world number 29 never trailed, demonstrating his scoring prowess with breaks of 71, 123, 62, 94, 65, and 56, yet he failed to convert those into victory.
The seventh frame proved particularly agonising, with O’Sullivan initially building a commanding 64-0 lead before Zhou fought back to win it 65-64. Zhou’s superb clearance of 125 in the subsequent eighth frame put him within touching distance, trailing at 5-3. Although O’Sullivan managed to win the ninth frame, he faltered in the decider, losing position while leading 58-46, allowing Zhou to seize the opportunity.
This result extends O’Sullivan’s barren run, having last claimed a ranking title in January 2024 and his most recent silverware of any kind at the World Masters of Snooker in March. The defeat marks back-to-back opening-round exits at the UK Championship, following his loss to Barry Hawkins at the same stage last year.
Reacting to his loss, O’Sullivan insisted he was not particularly downbeat, stating, “I’ll probably go for a run, eat some nice food, and watch some snooker.” He added: “It feels all right. It feels good in some ways and not so good in others. You probably worry less about some of the stuff you used to worry about, and try to enjoy your life.”
The snooker legend, widely considered the greatest player in the sport’s history, has become increasingly selective about his tournament appearances, now residing in Dubai with his family. His next opponent, Zhou, will face two-time UK champion Mark Selby, who defeated Chinese qualifier Lei Peifan 6-2 earlier on Tuesday.
O’Sullivan’s exit might evoke a sense of nostalgia among fans, a reminder that even the most celebrated careers face unexpected twists. The path of a champion, after all, is seldom linear and perhaps richer for its detours.
