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 4-2 Zhou Yuelong
Frame seven, here we go... If Zhou can get it back to 4-3...
FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 Zhou Yuelong
A couple of nice pots on the pink to the middle pockets and Zhou moves 28 points ahead with 27 on the table as we reach the colours.
Long-ish yellow which he crunches in. Plays safe off the green, tucking the cue ball in behind the brown ball. O’Sullivan would need two snookers and he doesn’t bother getting out of his seat, so it’s frame to Zhou!
Narrows the gap to 4-2
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
Half-chance for Zhou but his cut to the left corner is well off target. Good cue ball up in baulk behind the yellow though. Yellow, green, brown, blue and black all on or behind the baulk line, to give you an idea of the table.
Sloppy from Ronnie and Zhou back in control with a red to the right corner. Should be able to take three reds, three pinks and build a lead here.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan making it look easy working with only the pink. But he goes slightly out of position, leaves a red long to the yellow pocket and hits the jaws. An arm swipe of frustration from the seven-time champion.
He trails Zhou 41-34 with three reds on the table as we settle in for a bout of safety.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
Another chance for ‘The Rocket’ as Zhou leaves him a look at a red close to the right corner pocket. Simple pot and on the pink to middle. Only the pink down the business end of the table still though.
He’s forced up to baulk to pot the brown and beautifully comes round the angles to land plum on a red. Great shot. He’s eating into this deficit now - Zhou only leading 41-27 with O’Sullivan still at the table.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
WOW! I didn’t see that coming. O’Sullivan misses a routine pink to the left middle, catching it too thick and leaving it low. He looks annoyed at himself as he goes back to his seat with the score 41-8.
Despite the reds going everywhere, he hasn’t left a pot on for Zhou, so it’s just a safety for the Chinese star.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
The break ends at 41 though as Zhou crashes into the bunch off his sixth black but misses the pot That’s not the first time he’s done that in this match - took his eye off the spot.
The black runs up into baulk but O’Sullivan is in and can work with the pink for the time being.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
Four reds for Zhou and off the fourth black he bounces off the bottom cushion and tries to go into the pack of reds. Only flicks an outer red which rolls up towards the middle pocket and the white heads towards baulk but he’s on that stray red. A bit lucky really but he won’t mind.
The break moves on to 40 with five reds and five blacks.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
It’s hard to see a way back into this match for Zhou Yuelong but into frame six we go. Minor point but both players’ break-offs have been pretty tight - can’t remember a single red being left over a pocket from the break in this match.
A safety exchange to begin here but Zhou gets first sniff as he floats a long red in and holds for the black
FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-1 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan moves the break to 45 and we’re at the snookers-required stage for Zhou. A couple more reds ensure he won’t be coming back to the table.
‘The Rocket’ can’t complete a century as a long red to the yellow pockets stays out but that break pushes him 4-1 ahead and just two frames from victory.
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