Ronnie O’Sullivan Champion of Champions Defeat

Ronnie O’Sullivan Knocked Out of Champion of Champions by Xiao

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan faced a stunning early exit in the 2024 Champion of Champions tournament in Bolton. The 48-year-old snooker icon was defeated 4-3 by China’s Xiao Guodong in the opening round after surrendering a 3-0 lead.

Xiao’s comeback marked a remarkable display of skill, including impressive breaks of 130, 88, and 85, which turned the tide of the match at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Despite O’Sullivan’s early dominance with breaks of 95 and 125, Xiao’s resilience earned him a spot in the quarter-finals.

Xiao Guodong’s Journey

Quarter-Final Thriller Against Mark Selby

Xiao’s success didn’t stop at defeating O’Sullivan. In the quarter-finals, he faced four-time world champion Mark Selby in a nail-biting match. After falling behind 4-1, Xiao displayed nerves of steel to level the match at 4-4 and then at 5-5, showcasing brilliant breaks of 118, 78, and 58.

In a tense final frame, Xiao overturned a 39-0 deficit to win 78-51, completing his second comeback of the day. He now advances to the semi-finals, where he will face the tournament’s number one seed, Mark Allen.

O’Sullivan’s Recent Struggles

This defeat marks O’Sullivan’s second consecutive early exit in recent tournaments. Just last week, he was eliminated from the International Championship by Pang Junxu at the last-32 stage. Despite his legendary status, these losses highlight the increasing competitiveness of snooker on the global stage.