Rocket implodes in Beijing

World number one goes out in first round in China Open

Last updated: 31st March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rocket implodes in Beijing

O'Sullivan: Bad mistakes

I had a chance for 4-4 but I missed too many balls at crucial times. I felt relaxed and my preparation was as good as it could have been, but I wasn't the better player on the night.

Ronnie O'Sullivan
Quotes of the week

Also see

Three-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was at his worst as he suffered a 5-3 first round defeat by wildcard Tiang Pengfei at the China Open.

The world number one looked in one of those moods where he would rather be anywhere else than on the snooker table, and it showed in some of his decision-making.

O'Sullivan's performance was summed up in a wonderfully bizarre final frame, which had in-offs, snookers and, most tellingly, a horrendous miss on the black that handed Tiang the win.

At 3-3, O'Sullivan rattled in six reds and six blacks, but then went for an audacious cut along the top cushion, and when that stayed out Tiang responded impeccably with a break of 87 to go 4-3 in front.

The next, and final frame was a real rollercoaster, with Ronnie missing two easy pots either side of Tiang going in-off when potting a good yellow and snookering himself on the green.

Bad miss

'The Rocket' potted green to pink to leave a straight black for the frame, but he then inexplicably tried to roll it in dead weight and it failed to drop on the jaws, with the Essex cueman turning around and shaking hands without waiting for Tiang to confirm the win.

"I thought I played ok, there were just two or three frames that I lost from a long way ahead, when Tian made good clearances," said O'Sullivan. "I had a chance for 4-4 but I missed too many balls at crucial times.

"I felt relaxed and my preparation was as good as it could have been, but I wasn't the better player on the night. I try hard and play to win every match, but if my form is not great I will struggle against good opposition.

"Apart from Shanghai and the UK Championship, this season I have been below the standard I set myself."