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RONNIE O’SULLIVAN suffered one of his biggest collapses in recent memory as he bombed out of the Champion of Champions in Bolton.
Underdog Xiao Guodong completed a stunning comeback from 3-0 down to shock the Rocket 4-3 in their first group tie.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has crashed out of the Champion of Champions
The seven-time world champ lost 4-3 after storming to three frames aheadO’Sullivan sensationally collapsed in his bid to win a fifth Champion of Champions title.
He looked in brilliant form as he won the opening three frames in quickfire fashion, with Xiao not scoring a SINGLE POINT as O’Sullivan potted a total of 318 points.
But Xiao stormed back from a potential whitewash, winning FOUR straight frames.
O’Sullivan had made successive breaks of 65, 95 and 125 to go 3-0 up, before Xiao responded with efforts of 130, 88 and 85 to take the match to a decider.
In a nervy final-frame decider, Xiao missed a red to the middle pocket, which was essentially match ball.
But a fuming O’Sullivan would later accidentally nudge the green over the pocket and concede the clash.
While it got nervy at the end, Stephen Hendry on commentary described Xiao’s trio of breaks to force a decider as “world class”.
Hendry said: “I knew he was good, but I didn’t know he was this good.”
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The seven-time world champ quickly congratulated Xiao before grabbing his belongings and heading out of the arena in Bolton.
World No.16 Xiao faces the winner of Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy in the group final tonight.
Xiao qualified for the Champion of Champions are winning the Wuhan Open last month.
Proud Xiao, 35, said: “I didn’t think I could win this match. In the first three frames I didn’t pot one ball. It was a little bit of luck.
“I told myself to enjoy it. It was a good crowd, lots of people were watching me, the fans had come to watch Ronnie. I was happy to play Ronnie.
“This is my best win. I am sorry to Ronnie because he played so well. I had the chance to lose in the four frames. I got a little bit of luck. The game changed.
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O’Sullivan suffered one of his biggest collapses in recent memory“In snooker, one ball can change the game. Sometimes, you have to play every shot every time, and keep the focus.
“I won one title. I first came to the UK in 2007. In the last ten years I thought I could win one but still didn’t get it.
“I was happy to win my first one in China because my family and friends all saw me. It gave me a lot of confidence.”
It means O’Sullivan heads to the UK Championship – where he is the defending champion – in poor form.
The Rocket suffered another early exit as he lost 6-4 to Pang Junxu in the third round of the International Championship last week.
Earlier in the day, the potting GOAT was asked by ITV about a timeline for a retirement date – a topic he is often asked about and one that becomes more pertinent as he approaches his 49th birthday next month.
O’Sullivan, who has set many records since turning pro in 1992, said: “Listen, it will end when it ends.
“It will end when I decide it ends. I just keep playing, keep enjoying it. That’s the most important thing, you know.”
The rules of snooker
THE aim of snooker is to clear the table of all balls - and achieving it in an incredible 147 break is the ultimate goal.
The rectangular table features green baize, a baulk line and semi-circle, known as the D.
It has six pockets, four in each corner and two midway down both long sides.
There are 15 red balls which are arranged in a triangular shape.
There are also six colour balls, and the white cue ball.
Each colour sits on its own designated spot at the start of the game.
While red balls are worth one point when potted, the colours all have a different value.
In ascending order these are:
- Yellow – two points
- Green – three points
- Brown – four points
- Blue – five points
- Pink – six points
- Black – seven points
The first player will cue off and must hit at least one of the red balls in the triangle.
If they pot a red, they can then continue by potting a colour.
However, if no red is potted then their opponent will play the next shot – going for a red first.
Each player must first pot a red ball when it’s their turn to play. If nothing is pocketed it is the other player’s turn at the table.
After each red is potted they must then follow with a colour, then a red, then a colour, and so on.
Whilst there are still red balls on the table, the potted colour balls are returned to their designated spot.
Once all the red balls are pocketed, the player at the table must pot the colours in the order as outlined above.
If they miss then their opponent will have the opportunity to clear the table.
A 147 is a maximum break when all reds are potted by one player in one stint at the table.
In order to achieve 147, the player must pot all 15 reds with 15 blacks for 120 points.
They must then clear all the colours, concluding with the black for 27 points.
During play the rules state that the cue must only touch the white cue ball.
The cue ball also must hit the correct colour ball – reds or colours in order.
If it hits the incorrect colour then a foul is called.
If the cue ball fails to hit any ball or is pocketed it is also a foul.
The player’s turn at the table ends if they play a foul shot.
Players are also penalised if they touch any ball on the table with their person.
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