Snooker World Championships 2015: Ronnie O'Sullivan shrugs off shock exit as he'll 'go for a run and sparring in the afternoon'
O'Sullivan says 'life has to go on and will' following his defeat to Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ronnie O'Sullivan shrugged off a shock Crucible defeat as his exit from the Betfred World Championship threw the title race open.
Judd Trump would have expected to tackle O'Sullivan in a three-day semi-final, but instead it will be Stuart Bingham he confronts in the first of four sessions on Thursday evening.
Bingham strung together five successive frames from 9-8 behind to knock out the five-time champion 13-9 at the Crucible.
Asked how he would react, O'Sullivan said: "Hopefully I'll be gutted and hurt."
The new convert to boxing added: "I'll go for a run in the morning and sparring in the afternoon. Life has to go on and will go on."
Bingham believes a career-long status of being unfancied against high-profile opponents can take him a long way, with 25-year-old Trump the new title favourite.
Bingham said of his semi-final opponent: "He looks like he's flying out of his boots but I'm still in it and I've got a chance.
"I've been an underdog all my life. I'll just do my own thing.
"Judd is a very confident person, a good lad. He's got to a final before and feels like he can beat anyone.
"We all do in this situation."
Defeat means that for the first time in four years O'Sullivan will not feature in a Crucible final.
O'Sullivan said: "I've had 20 years at the top, eventually there has to be a changing of the guard."
Bingham was in an emotional state after reaching his first World Championship semi-final. Competing in a one-table Crucible environment will be a new experience for the 38-year-old from Basildon, who said: "I went back into my room and had a little tear and phoned the missus up and I couldn't speak.
"She said she wished she was here to give me a little cuddle."
Trump has been struggling with feverish symptoms but was still a ruthless 13-4 winner over Ding Junhui. Illness will not be a factor come semi-final time, he pledged.
The first semi-final to get under way at 1pm will see Shaun Murphy, a 13-8 winner against qualifier Anthony McGill, tackle Crucible specialist Barry Hawkins, who prevailed 13-12 over Australian Neil Robertson.
The eight centuries in the match between Robertson and Hawkins matched a Crucible record.
Meanwhile, World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has revealed snooker stars will play for a £1million bonus bounty in a new Home Series and promised Crucible champions will be made richer than ever.
Hearn announced the Welsh Open, already on the calendar, will be joined by a Scottish Open, Irish Open and English Open from the 2016/17 campaign, to make up the series.
Any player who lands all four titles in the same season will cash in with the million-pound cheque, Hearn said.
He also stated that prize money for the World Championship winner will shoot up from its current £300,000 to £500,000 for the 2018 tournament.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments