Ronnie O’Sullivan crashes OUT of the World Snooker Championship

Ronnie O’Sullivan crashes OUT of the World Snooker Championship as the seven-time winner’s hopes are ended by Belgian Luca Brecel who made an incredible comeback by winning the last seven frames

  • Ronnie O’Sullivan was eliminated in the quarterfinals by Luca Brecel
  • The seven-time champion led the game 10-6 going into the final session
  • However, he lost the last seven frames to the Belgian who advanced to the semi-finals

Ronnie O’Sullivan has been knocked out of the World Snooker Championship after a 13-10 defeat to Belgium’s Luca Brecel on Wednesday.

The seven-time champion had led the quarter-final 10-6, but lost seven consecutive frames in the final session in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan, who tied Stephen Hendry’s Crucible Crowns record last year, failed to make a single break above 30.

His Belgian opponent has set up a semi-final with Anthony McGill or Si Jiahui.

After his shock defeat, O’Sullivan told the BBC: ‘I didn’t put up any resistance, but you still have to pocket the balls and he played unbelievably. I didn’t play well enough to influence the game.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has been knocked out of the World Snooker Championship by Luca Brecel

O'Sullivan held a 10-6 lead, but lost the last seven frames in a miserable closing session

O’Sullivan held a 10-6 lead, but lost the last seven frames in a miserable closing session

O'Sullivan admitted after the loss that he didn't play well enough to make any impact

O’Sullivan admitted after the loss that he didn’t play well enough to make any impact

“If it had been a boxing match, they would have stopped it very early on. I was just squeezing frames and stuck.

“Only so much depends on you what you can do at the Crucible. It catches up with you at some point and eventually someone will lock you up.”

O’Sullivan failed to win a frame in a session at the Crucible for the first time since his 17–11 semi-final loss to Graeme Dott in 2006.

More to follow…