UK Snooker Championship LIVE: Ronnie O’Sullivan dramatically beats Zhou Yuelong in tight quarter-final
O’Sullivan edges past Zhou 6-5 for a place in the semi-finals at the York Barbican as Hossein Vafaei beats Zhang Anda 6-4
Ronnie O’Sullivan returned to action at the UK Snooker Championship with a dramatic win to book his place in the semi-finals at the York Barbican. O’Sullivan is bidding for an eighth UK Championship crown this week but for the second round in a row needed a deciding frame to advance, as he fought his way past Zhou Yuelong 6-5.
‘The Rocket’ got off to a flyer as he raced into a 3-0 lead, including a break of 125 in the opening frame, and then led 4-1. But Zhou hit back with four frames on the spin as the wheels came off the O’Sullivan train and he seemed destined for defeat at 5-4 behind.
But, as he has so often done before, he found another gear to level the match at 5-5 and then a ruthless break of 122 in the decider sealed the deal and set up a semi-final clash with Hossein Vafaei, in a rematch of their fiery World Championship clash from earlier this year.
“Technically I was all over the gaff,” said O’Sullivan after his win. “Out of desperation, I started to play alright in the last two frames. Before that, I was going through the motions. I was so frustrated and so disappointed with how I played, that didn’t feel any pressure. I wasn’t nervous, he was playing better and I deserved to lose. “
Relive the action from the UK Championship below:
Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-0 Zhou Yuelong
An ominous start from ‘The Rocket’. Zhou immediately leaves the arena to gather his thoughts ahead of the second frame. If he needed any reminding of what O’Sullivan can do - one missed red to the right corner led to a 125 total clearance.
FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 1-0 Zhou Yuelong
Nicely done by O’Sullivan. Rolls a red to middle to leave Zhou needing snookers. That’s the first frame in the bag - can he make the century?
Will need a cannon on the final red tied up near the right cushion. It’s a Hollywood shot round the angles and gives him a look at a long pot into the yellow pocket. It looks like it’s missing as it hits the cushion around the baulk line but still drifts into the pocket!
These aren’t the bucket pockets we see at some tournaments but how did that go in?! Anyway, century complete with the yellow and O’Sullivan completes the total clearance of 125. A perfect start for the seven-time champion.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan wearing dress shoes for this match. He’d had dispensation to wear black trainers for the first couple of rounds as he battled plantar fasciitis in his foot. Clearly feeling better now though.
Doesn’t seem to be affecting him on the table too much. The break moves past 50 and a century looks on here.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Zhou Yuelong
The black is tied up near the right cushion but the pink is on the black spot for O’Sullivan to work with. Most of the reds providing a decent orchard in the middle of the table as well.
On 28., O’Sullivan runs slightly out of position but powers a red into the middle and plays up to baulk to take the blue, getting it back on its spot to give him a bit of margin for error.
A break of 41 and counting with a couple of obstacles cleared...
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Zhou Yuelong
Decent safety exchange to begin proceedings. First mistake from Zhou as the cue ball cannons off the blue as it comes back up the table. The reds are awkwardly placed though, covering each other over the left corner and O’Sullivan can’t get to the potting angle.
Zhou misses a mid-range red to to the right corner and this time leaves ‘The Rocket’ in with a simple starting red to right middle. First chance O’Sullivan.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 0-0 Zhou Yuelong
Here we go...
Ronnie O’Sullivan breaks off and doesn’t leave a red for Zhou to have a go at. Decent safety response by the Chinese cueman though. Who will have the first chance here?
UK Snooker Championship
The irrepressible, Energizer bunny of an MC Rob Walker brings the four players on to the baize. Table 2 sees Hossein Vafaei – who was imperious beating Matthew Selt 6-1 last night by the way – face Zhang Anda for a place in the semi-finals.
But the main event is very much ‘The Rocket’ Ronnie O’Sullivan taking on Zhou Yuelong. If Zhou plays to his best and isn’t overawed by O’Sullivan, he could make a real game of this.
Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Zhou Yuelong head to head
The players will be out on the baize shortly but firstly, here’s a look at the O’Sullivan-Zhou career head-to-head.
Unfortunately, as for many players against ‘The Rocket’, it doesn’t make for pretty reading for Zhou.
He’s lost all four career matches against O’Sullivan and, in fact, only won two frames in that time – leaving the all-time frame score between the pair at 20-2... Last time they played, O’Sullivan hammered him 6-0 in the last 16 of this very tournament, the UK Championship, back in 2021.
The 25-year-old Zhou has spoken about Ronnie being his idol and perhaps that admiration factor has hindered the Chinese cueman. He’ll have to get over that if the world No 26 want to spring the upset against the world No 1 today.
Afternoon session schedule
Here’s a reminder of the afternoon session matches in York:
The 2023/24 snooker season so far
The UK Championship is the first triple crown event of the snooker season, which began in June and runs until the World Championship in the spring.
Here’s a look at the season so far (* denotes non-ranking event):
Championship League, 26 June-21 July (Winner: Shaun Murphy)
European Masters, 22-27 August (Barry Hawkins)
Shanghai Masters, 11-17 September (Ronnie O’Sullivan) *
British Open, 25 September-1 October (Mark Williams)
English Open, 2-8 October (Judd Trump)
Wuhan Open, 9-15 October (Judd Trump)
Northern Ireland Open, 22-29 October (Judd Trump)
International Championship, 5-12 November (Zhang Anda)
Champion of Champions, 13-19 November (Mark Allen) *
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