Eight-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan knocked out in first spherical to Zhou Yuelong; Sullivan fell to 6-4 defeat; The 2025 UK Championship runs from November 29 to December 7 on the York Barbican
Final Up to date: 02/12/25 5:25pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan was knocked out within the first spherical of the UK Championship to Zhou Yuelong
Ronnie O’Sullivan has been knocked out of the UK Championship within the first spherical following a 6-4 defeat to China’s Zhou Yuelong on Tuesday on the York Barbican.
O’Sullivan, who celebrates his fiftieth birthday on Friday, missed an opportunity to drive a decider and Zhou cleared the colors to say his first win over the report eight-time champion in eight makes an attempt.
It marked the primary time O’Sullivan, who now resides in Dubai, has performed in Britain since his loss to Zhao Xintong within the World Championship semi-final in Might.
And he revealed he has no explicit plans for his birthday as he prepares to move straight out of York and again to his momentary base in southern Eire.
“I’ll probably go for a run, eat some nice food, and watch some snooker,” shrugged O’Sullivan, who insisted he was not notably downbeat regardless of a hard-fought defeat.
Referencing his imminent transfer into his sixth decade, O’Sullivan added: “It feels all right. It feels good in some ways and not so good in others. You probably worry less about some of the stuff you used to worry about, and try to enjoy your life.
“I believe for the reason that begin of the match I’ve loved enjoying. (However) that was a little bit of a ropey efficiency. I missed lots of balls and I did not should win.”
O’Sullivan clawed again a two-frame deficit however Zhou, the world quantity 29, stole two frames on the black to regain his momentum, and the favorite’s hopes of forcing a decider evaporated when he broke down on the yellow and Zhou in the end cleared the colors for the highest-profile win of his profession.
Mark Selby shrugged off a minor revival by his Chinese language opponent Lei Peifan to safe a 6-2 win and arrange a last-16 conflict in opposition to Zhou.
