Just like last year, Ronnie lost his opening match at the UK Championship in the round of 32.

Here is the report shared by WST:

Jumping Dragon Overcomes The Rocket

China’s Zhou Yuelong defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan for the first time in his career, scoring a superb 6-4 win over the Englishman at the Victorian Plumbing UK Championship in York. 

In seven previous meetings, O’Sullivan had prevailed each time. That included a clash at the 2023 UK Championship where the 41-time ranking event winner triumphed 6-5 from 5-4 down.

This afternoon’s win sees Zhou, who checked out of his hotel this morning, finally overcome the Rocket for a first time. He now faces Mark Selby for the chance to better it.

O’Sullivan holds a record eight UK Championship crowns, but this is the second consecutive year he’s fallen at the first hurdle. Barry Hawkins also defeated O’Sullivan 6-4 in York 12 months ago.

A 29-minute opening frame this afternoon went the way of Zhou, before he cleared the colours to steal the second on the black and lead 2-0.

O’Sullivan was making his first appearance on British soil this season, since moving to Dubai earlier this year and he stepped up with breaks of 71 and 123 to make it 2-2 and restore parity at the mid-session.

Frames were traded upon the resumption, before Zhou moved 4-3 by snatching the seventh by a single point. A break of 127 then moved him one from victory at 5-3. The Rocket responded to extend the match, but it was Zhou who got over the line in the tenth for a momentous victory.

27-year-old Zhou said: “I am so excited. He is a legendary snooker player and best in history. He is the king of the Barbican. If you can beat Ronnie it has to give you confidence. This is a big victory for my career.

“I’ve played Mark Selby many times. He is another legendary player. I need to prepare and play well tomorrow.

“I checked out of my accommodation this morning. I booked one week ago when the draw came out. It is very expensive and I didn’t know if I was winning or losing. I need to stay now. I will find somewhere near this venue.”

O’Sullivan, who turns 50 this week, said: “He played better. I didn’t give him much of a fight and had a lot of bad mistakes really. He deserved his victory today.

“Defeat is defeat. You have to accept it is part and parcel of being a professional sportsman.”

And here are the scores and stats for this match

Ronnie scored more points than his opponent, made 6 breaks over 50 for just one by Zhou, had a higher “pot rate”¹ but all that doesn’t matter. The only stat that does matter is that Zhou won 6 frames, and Ronnie won 4 frames.

Here, reported by Phil Haigh, is Ronnie’s reaction to the defeat:

Ronnie O’Sullivan suggests reason for ‘ropy’ UK Championship defeat

Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted he was ‘ropy’ in UK Championship defeat to Zhou Yuelong on Tuesday, feeling a change of tip did not help his cause.

The Rocket was beaten 6-4 by the 27-year-old, with Zhou scoring a first win over the seven-time world champion at the eighth time of asking.

There was some really good stuff in there from the 49-year-old, who made breaks of 71, 123, 62, 94, 65 and 56.

However, he made some surprising errors and admitted Zhou deserved to beat him.

‘Obviously he played better,’ the Rocket told the BBC. ‘I didn’t really give him much of a fight. A lot of bad mistakes really, basic ones. He deserved his victory.

‘Defeat’s defeat innit? You’ve got to just accept it as part and parcel of being a professional sportsman.’

Speaking in a post-match press conference, O’Sullivan said he was not feeling entirely comfortable with the tip he was using at the Barbican.

A recent switch to harder tips has proved a bit hit-and-miss and he now intends to return to one with ‘a little bit more give.’

‘I’m enjoying playing. Since the start of the season I’ve enjoyed playing,’ he said.

‘That was a bit of a ropy performance. I have to admit that, I’m not going to shy away from that.

‘I’ve started using harder tips. The one I played in Saudi, the first one, was great and China felt good. I’m not making excuses, I never make excuses, that’s just not me. But I think all the players are trying different tups. I’ve gone to a harder one. Maybe my touch and feel is not as good, I don’t know.

‘Maybe I need to go back to something that has a little bit more give.’

O’Sullivan is not despondent about his game, though, saying: ‘I feel like I’m hitting the ball alright. That’s the most important thing.’

Outside of a run to the Saudi Arabia Masters final, it has been a quiet season so far for the Rocket and it is not clear when we will see him back on the table.

Earlier this campaign he suggested he would not play at the Masters in January and he was non-committal about his attendance at Alexandra Palace after defeat at the Barbican. Asked the same question in a press conference, he said: ‘Hopefully. I’d like to. We’ll see.’

Zhou moves on to the last 16 where he will take on Mark Selby for a place in the quarter-finals after the Jester from Leicester downed Lei Peifan 6-2 on Tuesday afternoon.

On a first win over O’Sullivan, Zhou said: ‘I think for my career it’s one big win!

‘Before I lost many times to Ronnie, every time I played Ronnie I was so nervous. When I was a child I was watching Ronnie all the time on the TV.

‘I have so much respect for Ronnie, he’s a great snooker player and also he’s won the UK Championship eight times. He’s King in the Barbican! I’m so proud of myself.’

I didn’t watch the match. For some reason I expected that defeat. I’m not sure why exactly, but I did expect it. I’m feeling sad, more than disappointed and I’m not optimistic for Ronnie’s future on the baize.

Of course, Ronnie has nothing to prove and his legacy is immense and I’m not writing him off just yet but … time waits for no one.

I should know, I’m going to turn 71 in two weeks time. I’m not sure how that happened, where have all those years gone 😳😟 ?

There was still some good stuff from Ronnie in there though …

and this is the last frame…

1. Whatever that is … ↩︎