A SHATTERED Ronnie O'Sullivan returned to Chigwell on Monday night after a premature exit from the Embassy World Snooker Championships in Sheffield (Ivan Hirschowitz writes).
The Rocket was strongly fancied to go all the way to his first World crown before Surrey's David Gray, ranked 60th in the world, scored a sensational 10-9 win in the first round at the Crucible Theatre.
Ronnie was, as ever, gracious in defeat, paying tribute to Gray's performance. He said: 'It was David's day and he deserved his victory. I just hope it's a good tournament for him and he picks up some experience. A defeat at the Crucible is hard to take but I will come back a better player next season'
It was a facinating contest with O'Sullivan often threatening to stamp his genius decisively but the unshakable Gray repeatedly hauling him back.
Ronnie surged 5-1 ahead with three successive century breaks (123, 101 and 115), only the second time in Crucible history that such a feat has been registered.
The following frame saw the Essex man miss a long red when on target for a maximum 147 and this unsettled him as Gray pinched the next three frames.
The concluding session saw Ronnie take a 9-7 lead but Gray battled on to steal the last three frames and sent the Rocket crashing.
O'Sullivan's defeat followed an even bigger shock as seven-time champion and no.1 seed Stephen Hendry was knocked out by world no. 92 Stuart Bingham.
Basildon 23-year-old Bingham, making his championship debut, beat Hendry 10-7 to record the biggest upset at the Crucible since 1982 when barely-known youngster Tony Knowles beat defending champion Steve Davis 10-1.
Bingham returned to Essex to relax before his second-round match on Friday against either Jimmy White or Billy Snaddon. He enjoyed 18 holes at Epping Forest Golf and Country Club on Monday then got back to the green baize at Debden Snooker Club in Loughton.
He told Guardian Sport: 'I feel brilliant today, although the fact that I beat Stephen Hendry hasn't quite sunk in yet.
'I felt confident playing there even towards the end and I tried to enjoy it because all the pressure was on Hendry. I decided early on to go for my shots and thankfully most of them went in.'
He added: 'I'd like to think I can go a bit further in the tournament. If I can keep playing to the same standard then who knows how far I can go.'Rocket misfires
A SHATTERED Ronnie O'Sullivan returned to Chigwell on Monday night after a premature exit from the Embassy World Snooker Championships in Sheffield (Ivan Hirschowitz writes).
The Rocket was strongly fancied to go all the way to his first World crown before Surrey's David Gray, ranked 60th in the world, scored a sensational 10-9 win in the first round at the Crucible Theatre.
Ronnie was, as ever, gracious in defeat, paying tribute to Gray's performance. He said: 'It was David's day and he deserved his victory. I just hope it's a good tournament for him and he picks up some experience. A defeat at the Crucible is hard to take but I will come back a better player next season'
It was a facinating contest with O'Sullivan often threatening to stamp his genius decisively but the unshakable Gray repeatedly hauling him back.
Ronnie surged 5-1 ahead with three successive century breaks (123, 101 and 115), only the second time in Crucible history that such a feat has been registered.
The following frame saw the Essex man miss a long red when on target for a maximum 147 and this unsettled him as Gray pinched the next three frames.
The concluding session saw Ronnie take a 9-7 lead but Gray battled on to steal the last three frames and sent the Rocket crashing.
O'Sullivan's defeat followed an even bigger shock as seven-time champion and no.1 seed Stephen Hendry was knocked out by world no. 92 Stuart Bingham.
Basildon 23-year-old Bingham, making his championship debut, beat Hendry 10-7 to record the biggest upset at the Crucible since 1982 when barely-known youngster Tony Knowles beat defending champion Steve Davis 10-1.
Bingham returned to Essex to relax before his second-round match on Friday against either Jimmy White or Billy Snaddon. He enjoyed 18 holes at Epping Forest Golf and Country Club on Monday then got back to the green baize at Debden Snooker Club in Loughton.
He told Guardian Sport: 'I feel brilliant today, although the fact that I beat Stephen Hendry hasn't quite sunk in yet.
'I felt confident playing there even towards the end and I tried to enjoy it because all the pressure was on Hendry. I decided early on to go for my shots and thankfully most of them went in.'
He added: 'I'd like to think I can go a bit further in the tournament. If I can keep playing to the same standard then who knows how far I can go.'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article