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 reveals he was 'on phone to Samaritans' at snooker world championships

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 vs Zhou Yuelong live updates

• Ronnie O’Sullivan dramatically beats Zhou Yelong 6-5 in quarter-final of UK Snooker Championship
• RESULT! Ronnie O’Sullivan 6-5 Zhou Yuelong
• O’Sullivan lets 4-1 lead slip to trail 5-4 before winning final two frames to sneak into semi-finals

[1 December 2023 16:31 · Luke Baker]

FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 5-5 Zhou Yuelong

O’Sullivan moves across the line with another red, a couple more pots ensures there’s no way back for Zhou at all. Eventually misses a brown with one red left but a break of 77 and that’s that.

O’Sullivan wins the frame and we’re heading to a decider.

[1 December 2023 16:30 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

O’Sullivan, as he does at his best, making the difficult looks easy. Screws the cue ball back off the left cushion and between two balls to leave himself plum on another cherry to the right corner.

This is becoming a frame-winning chance now and we should be heading for a decider. Sinks another pink as the break reaches 50, just a couple more reds required now.

[1 December 2023 16:28 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

There’s a red right below the black spot that makes spotting the black ball a delicate job for referee Marcel Eckhart every time. It still pots to the right corner though.

O’Sullivan picking off reds and working with pink and black as he takes the break past 30. Removes that red below the black now which should make things easier.

[1 December 2023 16:26 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

WOW! Ronnie digs out a sublime pot. A mental error from Zhou trying to be clever with his safety leaves Ronnie a look at a very thin cut into the left corner. He has to play it left-handed and does so in style! The black waiting over the opposite corner pocket is handy as well.

The table is a bit of a mess though with reds all spread out and blocking each other.

[1 December 2023 16:22 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

Zhou has a long old think about a safety shot after being left tight to the baulk cushion. Eventually plays a good one up the left-hand side of the table and the cue ball rattles in the jaws of the yellow pocket but stays out.

Tough return now for O’Sullivan and he leaves the white well short after catching the red far too thick. No real damage done though as the black goes towards the right corner, largely covering that pocket from any potential pots.

[1 December 2023 16:19 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

Single red again for O’Sullivan - nice pot but no colour to follow. The tactical battle continues.

[1 December 2023 16:17 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

Mistake from O’Sullivan as the cue ball ends up in the yellow pocket from a safety. Zhou decides to have a go at a long pot into the left corner and nails it! Lovely shot, lots of left-hand side on the cue ball to avoid the cannon with the black and get up back to baulk.

Wow - that’s an aggressive safety shot by Zhou as he cannons the yellow into the pack of reds to open them up. Five points apiece as we enter another bout of safety. Who blinks first?

[1 December 2023 16:14 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

Ronnie has dug out a cracker there. Lovely floated long pot into the right corner pocket. Mark Williams-esque from O’Sullivan. He pots a tough brown as a follow-up but no position on the next red, so just the five points before the safety.

[1 December 2023 16:13 · Luke Baker]

Hossein Vafaei 3-4 Zhang Anda

Over on the other table, the Hossein Vafaei vs Zhang Anda is similarly close. Zhang currently 4-3 ahead but Vafaei 53 points to the good in the next and primed to make it 4-4.

[1 December 2023 16:11 · Luke Baker]

Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-5 Zhou Yuelong

Huge moments ahead. Ronnie O’Sullivan needs to win the final two frames to avoid a quarter-final exit. Remember, Zhou Yuelong had won just two frames in four previous matches against O’Sullivan. He’s now one away from a famous win