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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This guy is completely overratted
@jay bernard: don’t know how he warrants a contract of that size given his achievements in the game. He needs to start scoring regularly especially if the Wissam Ben Yedder rumours are true. WBY is a real fox in the box, Deschamps really rates him.
Best goal tally for 21 and under in the EPL, La Liga & Seria A in what was a shocking season under two different managers. 200k going to 300k based on incentives. Manchester born and bred. He’ll turn out to be some player yet
An absolute joke.
It’s 200k a week max as per Simon Stone – reliable United journo
@Brian: and you think that even £200,000 is acceptable for a player that scored 10 league goals last season. He’s English!!! He has been overhyped and overrated since they Day he broke into the first team by the British press, £200,000 per week for a very average player that would be more suited to playing for a team like Newcastle, Everton or Southampton. Mid table player at best, that shouldn’t be earning anything over 100,000 never mind 200,000 or 300,000.
@Devilsavocado: And eventually he will be destroyed by the British press too, I wish Utd would sell him on now
Beans Beans Beans
@Alan Brazil: is all you eat. Stand well back!
The club is a circus. Run by clowns who aren’t football men
@munsterman: and if you look at the nonsense that ich bin Brendan has been scribbling up there, it seems they are supported by a few clowns as well…..
@Devilsavocado: haha! G!mp
@Ich bin brendan: come on,, seriously mate, you really don’t believe the nonsense that you were writing in your previous posts do you?? There isn’t a club that finished in the top 5 above Utd that the lad would get into as a first team player. Not a single club that will be in the champions league next year had a bit of interest in buying him, he’s at best a bench player for Utd, but a 200,000 a week bench player??? WTF is going on at Utd that they offered that much money to him?? Where else was he going to go, they easily could have halved that and even then he should still consider himself lucky to be wearing the Utd jersey,, come on, I can’t be the only one who sees this….
@Devilsavocado: quit looking for validation. I’ll correct myself in that he didn’t score v pool in their 3-1 spanking but everything stated is fact inc. turning the best rb inside out and scoring in every debut. Barcelona were being touted as making an official approach, how much of that is being true is as truthful to say not a single team were, it would take a team of that stature to pull a local lad away from his local team. Apart from Kane for Spurs there isn’t a top 5 team that would produce an academy player like him. 200,000K is daft money but that’s the state of the club atm, not many want the Glazers there but that’s what they’re working with. I’m delighted he’s there for another 4 yrs, he’s got the wage now it’s upto him to start earning it, I believe he will.
@Ich bin brendan: ok fair enough, you have your opinion on the matter and people that actually know a bit about football have there’s. Let’s be honest here, I doesn’t matter that your opinion is obviously that of a delusional fan that can’t look at things without your fan glasses on but that’s ok,, we will leave it there and I’ll let you get back to your colouring book and crayons, there’s a good boy,, don’t stay up to late… :) validate myself, ha ha ha ha ha..
@Devilsavocado: “that actually know a bit about football” you have me stumped, you’ve trouble validating your opinionated drivel. “Ha ha ha” like I said before, G!mp
He’s got to start delivering on his promise . A lot of cash for a man still not scoring regularly but he does have the potential to be an absolute world class player I just hope he does start getting 30 odd goals a season .
On his debut he’s scored 2 in the EPL, same in his Europa, 1 Champions league and on his derby debut. Also turned the best rb in the country inside out to score against their biggest rivals, with the golden glove winner in goal!
@Ich bin brendan: can throw in his debut in the EFL & FA Cup as well. So every cup comp available to him. Calling him over rated is being bias, he’s proven he’s capable, needs consistency with age.
Reminds me of Ian Rush
His nose is offside
Even as a man utd fan, I think he doesn’t deserve this, prove your worth then get the money, he didn’t prove anything last season to deserve half this money.