Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals he was ‘on phone to Samaritans’ at snooker world championships
Ronnie O’Sullivan will look to continue his impressive recent form as he faces Zhou Yuelong in the second round of the World Grand Prix in Leicester this afternoon, trying to win a second snooker tournament on the spin.
O’Sullivan beat Ali Carter to win the final of the 2024 Masters at Alexandra Palace last weekend, lifting the iconic crystal trophy for a record eighth time. However, it’s the ongoing war of words between ‘The Rocket’ and Carter that followed which has captured headlines.
There is no love lost between the two Essex lads and Carter accused his 48-year-old rival of snotting on the Ally Pally arena floor during the Masters final, with O’Sullivan hitting back in an extraordinary rant, calling his opponent “a f****** nightmare” before urging him to “sort his f****** life out” and “see a counsellor. Carter responded by saying “I actually feel a bit sorry for him. I don’t think he is that well, mentally” and it will be a fascinating dynamic should the pair meet in another match later this season.
It won’t be at the World Grand Prix this week, after Carter lost 4-3 to Mark Selby on Wednesday evening, and ‘The Rocket’ has claimed he regrets not pulling out of the event in Leicester to mentally recover and insists he will be doing exactly that in upcoming tournaments. But, for the time being, he is still in the event and faces talented 25-year-old Chinese cueman Zhou with a place in the quarter-finals at stake.
Follow all the latest updates from the World Grand Prix below:
FRAME AND MATCH! Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-3 Zhou Yuelong
No he won’t but it doesn’t matter. The break ends at 90 but RONNIE O’SULLIVAN WINS THE MATCH 4-3. A SUPERB CONTEST
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:50
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Zhou Yuelong
Ruthless. Simply ruthless from Ronnie O’Sullivan. He got one chance in this decider and has taken it in style! He leaves Zhou needing snookers and the only question now is will he get the century?
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:50
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Zhou Yuelong
No hesitation from O’Sullivan as he strides around the table, crunching in reds and working with both pink and blacks. A Couple of reds are on the side cushion but if he takes the remaining reds in the middle of the table, he can win the frame before needing them.
A lovely, dead-weight pot on a red is rolled to left middle and he’s only a couple of pots away from victory…
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:48
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Zhou Yuelong
Yes, he has left O’Sullivan in. Ronnie digs out a pot on the red and sets to work. Lovely split on the pack of reds, he’s suddenly up beyond 20 points and this feels like a match-winning opportunity.
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:46
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Zhou Yuelong
Underway in the decider, Zhou breaks off. A place in the quarter-final to the winner of this frame.
O’Sullivan half-goes for a pot to the right corner but has safety in mind with the cueball coming back to baulk. Zhou makes no such concession as he crunches a red into the left corner. But after the black, he misses a red to left middle! The lead is only eight points. A tricky pot but has he left O’Sullivan in here?
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:45
FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-3 Zhou Yuelong
Zhou straight back in as O’Sullivan messes up the safety, leaving his opponent a simple red to right middle. That pot, with the black, takes him to the snookers required stage and we’ll be heading to a decider!
A break of 56 to seal it and ZHOU YUELONG WINS FRAME SIX TO FORCE A DECIDER AT 3-3!
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:39
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Zhou Yuelong
The initial split goes ok as Zhou flicks one red clear. He pots that and tries to drive through and open up others but doesn’t come far enough with the white!
He’s badly out of position on the black with the cueball almost directly above it. Rather than risking a ridiculously thin pot, he plays safe. Admirable, sensible play especially with the 147 still on!
A good 65-0 lead but plenty of points remaining to O’Sullivan to steal this.
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:36
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Zhou Yuelong
Zhou Yuelong needs to win these final two frames to steal a win and earn a place in the quarter-finals. A long red gets him the first opportunity in frame six.
He’s playing with supreme confidence at the moment and doesn’t look like missing as he quickly races up to beyond 50. The key shot will be splitting the cluster of six reds in the middle of the table.
He’s actually on a 147 again here! Eight reds, eight blacks…
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:34
FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-2 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan wins the safety battle and that could be crucial. Takes the blue after the red and the colours are all there waiting for him. He clears up and takes the frame 80-40.
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN TAKES FRAME FIVE AND IS ONE AWAY FROM VICTORY!
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:26
Ronnie O’Sullivan 2-2 Zhou Yuelong
A chance for Zhou as Ronnie leaves a red cuttable to the left corner. Good pot and can add the pink, which has headed up into the baulk area. A tough ask to get on the final red, close to the right cushion below the blue pocket.
Doesn’t get anywhere landing on it in a pottable position, so plays safe. Zhou has narrowed the deficit to 50-40 with one red left though.
Luke Baker18 January 2024 14:23
