Ronnie O’Sullivan LOSES from 3-0 up to exit Champion of Champions Snooker leaving commentators shocked
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 beat Rocket 4-3 in the last-16.
O’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 short order, with Xiao not scoring a SINGLE POINT as O’Sullivan scored 318.
But Xiao stormed back from the jaws of defeat to somehow win FOUR straight frames.
O’Sullivan had made breaks of 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, with the Rocket not scoring a point in those three.
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.”
Xiao Guodong mounted a stunning comeback to overcome a 3-0 deficit[/caption]
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The seven-time world champ quickly congratulated Xiao before grabbing his belongings and heading out of the arena in Bolton.
It comes after O’Sullivan suffered an early exit in China last week.
The Rocket lost 6-4 to Pang Junxu in the third round of the International Championship.
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.
It means O’Sullivan heads to the UK Championship – where he is the defending champion – in poor form.
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 have the chance to lose in the four frames. I got a little bit of luck. The game changed.
Xiao Guodong pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history[/caption]
“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.”
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.”
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