FIVE-TIME CHAMPION Ronnie O’Sullivan was knocked out of this year’s World Championship after a dramatic 13-12 defeat against Barry Hawkins at the Crucible last night.
Hawkins, beaten by O’Sullivan in the 2013 final, was on the brink of going through to the last eight at 12-9 up.
But O’Sullivan responded with breaks of 124, 88 and 63 to force a final-frame decider.
However, with O’Sullivan — far and away the most charismatic player in the game today — on the verge of delighting his fans with a comeback win, Hawkins regained his composure.
The 11th-seed’s break of 56 gave him the initial advantage in a scrappy final frame before O’Sullivan’s in-off saw Hawkins seal victory.
“I fancied my chances but when a frame goes like that it’s a bit of a toss of a coin and if there was a weakness in my game it was definitely on the tactical side,” said O’Sullivan.
I was second best in 90% or even 100% of every frame that went like that, and if it wasn’t won in one visit, I probably lost all of them. I feel like a golfer birdying 15 holes but taking triple-triple bogeys on three holes.
‘Figurehead’
O’Sullivan, who was reprimanded by snooker chiefs for failing to attend a press conference earlier in the tournament, added: “I find it difficult being a figurehead of the sport with all the attention on me and such a high expectation on me, including from myself, and sometimes I don’t handle that well.
Hopefully with a bit of help and support I can manage the pressure and stress I put on myself and that comes from you guys (the press) as well, because you kind of make out I’ve won the tournament before I even turn up.
Hawkins will now play Hong Kong’s Marco Fu in the quarter-finals.
His win over O’Sullivan was the first time Hawkins had beaten the “Rocket” in 14 years and came just three months after he suffered a humiliating 10-1 defeat by the snooker great in the Masters final at London’s Alexandra Palace.
“I knew I had to play really well but I definitely had a different mindset from going into the Masters final,” said Hawkins. “I’m just delighted to get another victory over him after 14 years — it might be 14 years before I beat him again.”
On the other table, four-time world champion John Higgins, 10-6 in front overnight, beat Ricky Walden 13-8 and will now face Alan McManus in an all-Scottish quarter-final.
Earlier China’s Ding Junhui made good on his overnight lead to beat 2011 finalist Judd Trump 13-10 and he will next play former world champion Mark Williams.
Rising star Kyren Wilson reached the last eight by beating Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen 13-9 and he will now face former world number one Mark Selby.
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