Rocket Ronnie is knocked out by Allen

Saturday, 25 April 2009 13:34

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen today caused the sensation of this season's Betfred.com World Championship by knocking out Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The world number 16 produced jaw-dropping snooker to turn around a 9-7 overnight deficit and win 13-11.

Defending champion and red-hot tournament favourite O'Sullivan was outplayed by the man from Antrim, who goes on to face Ryan Day or Nigel Bond in the quarter-finals.

O'Sullivan had reached at least the last-eight stage in each season since suffering a first-round defeat to Marcu Fu in 2003.

But the three-time winner could not cope with Allen's devastating display in the third session of their best-of-25-frames match.

O'Sullivan was bidding to become the first man since Stephen Hendry in 1996 to make a successful defence of his title. Only Hendry and Steve Davis have achieved that feat since the tournament moved to the Crucible, and there must be real doubt over whether O'Sullivan will ever join them in that club.

Allen won the first three frames of the day before O'Sullivan responded in magnificent style with a break of 105. He potted 14 reds but missed a difficult 14th black, electing to play the shot left-handed rather than using the rest and left the ball in the jaws of the pocket.

The audience had been readying themselves to acclaim what would have been O'Sullivan's fourth career maximum at the World Championship. It would have earned him prize money of £157,000.

O'Sullivan had the first chance of the 21st frame, after they returned from the mid-session interval, but missed his starter.
Allen made the first pot and then made a stunning safety shot to put O'Sullivan in a touch of trouble.

Report reduced.

http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2009/0425/snooker_osullivan_allen.html