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Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Rocket's poor start to snooker season continues with shock early China Open loss to Noppon Saengkham

Ronnie O'Sullivan suffers shock defeat to Noppon Saengkham in China Open second round, continuing his poor start to the snooker season; his early tournament exit follows a defeat to Kyren Wilson in the second round of the Shanghai Masters too for the 50-year-old Englishman

Wednesday 12 August 2026 16:45, UK

Ronnie O'Sullivan has bowed out in the second round of the China Open
Image: Ronnie O'Sullivan has bowed out in the second round of the China Open

Ronnie O'Sullivan's poor start to the new season continued after he lost 6-4 to Noppon Saengkham in the second round of the China Open.

O'Sullivan had won the tournament twice before, but any hopes of a lengthy run in Taiyuan on the return of the event after a seven-year absence ended on Wednesday.

Seven-time world champion O'Sullivan recovered from a slow start to progress past Jackson Page but, despite three half-century breaks in the last-16 tie, Thailand's Saengkham proved too strong.

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After O'Sullivan had reeled off six frames in a row to down Page, he made it seven with a break of 64 to move 1-0 up.

A 3-1 advantage for O'Sullivan was established after he narrowly missed out on a century before Saengkham started to fight back.

With errors becoming more frequent from O'Sullivan, Saengkham produced a break of 88 to level and when a scratchy seventh frame went his way, the momentum had flipped.

O'Sullivan, 50, also only reached the second round at the Shanghai Masters
Image: O'Sullivan, 50, also only reached the second round at the Shanghai Masters

Saengkham made it four frames in a row to move 5-3 up, but O'Sullivan hit back with an excellent 88.

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It set up a tantalising finale and even though O'Sullivan clawed back two snookers, Saengkham's took the frame 64-46 to send him packing in the second round after he exited at the same stage of the Shanghai Masters.

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