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RONNIE O’SULLIVAN survived a major scare as he avoided losing to a woman for the first time in his 32-year professional career.
The Rocket, 48, had faced off with female snooker stars in both singles and mixed doubles a few times over the years.
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GettyBut he looked to be in real danger when he took on Mink Nutcharut at the International Championship in China.
Despite leading 4-1, O’Sullivan had not looked convincing – after play had been delayed for nearly an hour to get all the fans into their seats to watch the legend in action.
And then Nutcharut came roaring back with the sixth and seventh frames to make it 4-3 in the best-of-11 match.
But he turned on the style from 4-3 to get over the line and avoid the shock early exit.
Ronnie – who turned pro in 1992 – blitzed through the eighth frame with a lightning-quick break of 69.
And he wrapped it up in style.
O’Sullivan completed the 6-3 victory with a second century of the match.
He finished off with a total clearance of 132 to book his place in the next round.
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There was a warm handshake between the pair of former world champions O’Sullivan and Nutcharut at the end as Ronnie encouraged the jubilant crowd to give her a wonderful ovation.
Thai ace Nutcharut, 24, won the World Women’s Snooker Championship in 2022 when she beat Wendy Jans in Sheffield.
However, she was runner-up at March’s 2024 edition in China.
Nutcharut is the current women’s No1 and the only ever female to record a 147.
O’Sullivan will face He Guoqiang in the second round of the 128-player tournament in Nanjing on Monday.
And the Essex potter will be eyeing the cool £175,000 winner’s prize pot come next Sunday’s final.
Inside Ronnie's colourful career
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan has three children – two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket’s on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous ‘Snotgate’ row.
Check out all our latest Ronnie O’Sullivan articles.
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