Ronnie O'Sullivan's shock World Championship exit gives Mark Allen chance to seize world No. 1 spot from snooker GOAT
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ByEurosport
Updated 27/04/2023 at 04:54 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan could relinquish his top spot in the sport's rankings if UK champion Mark Allen reaches the final of the 47th World Championship. A struggling O'Sullivan lost his form and seven straight frames to crash out in a shock 13-10 defeat to Luca Brecel, having led 10-6 overnight. Allen will face four-imte champion Mark Selby in his first semi-final appearance since 2009 in Sheffield.
Highlights: O'Sullivan stunned by Brecel in Crucible shock
Ronnie O'Sullivan will lose his place at the top of the snooker rankings if UK champion Mark Allen reaches the final of the 47th World Championship in Sheffield.
O'Sullivan's shock 13-10 defeat to Luca Brecel from 10-6 ahead overnight in the quarter-finals has opened the door for the Antrim man to take over at the top for the first time in his 18-year professional career.
O'Sullivan earned £50,000 for reaching the last eight, but Allen is guaranteed double that amount after his 13-10 win over qualifier Jak Jones earlier on Wednesday earned him a semi-final berth at the sport's ultimate event for the first time since 2009.
Despite Brecel's undoubted potting prowess, O'Sullivan produced arguably his poorest performance at the venue since he blew an 8-2 lead against Peter Ebdon in the 2005 quarter-finals with the Belgian gifted numerous opportunities to score.
A profligate O'Sullivan astonishingly failed to make a break over 30 as he lost the final seven frames in only 89 minutes before a stunned Crucible Theatre, scene of his title victories in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.
“I've probably lost here 24 times and won seven times so the law of averages say at some point you have to get beat," said O'Sullivan, who must wait another year for his chance to overtake fellow seven-time winner Stephen Hendry as the most prolific world champion of the modern era.
"This year was the one time, I’m sure I’ll have another good performance at the Crucible, but who knows? We’ll just wait and see.”
O'Sullivan returned to top spot with his 18-13 win over Judd Trump in last year's final.
But his untimely collapse against Brecel could have further implications with Allen in the frame to displace him in the end of season rankings ahead of the three-day best-of-33 semi-final against Mark Selby on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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Exclusive: O’Sullivan ‘not really that disappointed’ about shock Crucible exit
The Northern Irishman is only 25,500 points behind O'Sullivan with a final place worth at least £200,000 and this year's world champion guaranteed to earn £500,000.
Brecel is up to a career-high fifth in the end of season rankings, but would rise to second spot behind O'Sullivan if he wins the title and Allen fails to reach the final.
Four-time champion Mark Selby will return to the world No. 3 spot if he can lift the trophy for a fifth time on Monday evening.
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‘I’m not surprised I played like that’ – Brecel reacts to win over O’Sullivan
Provisional 2023/24 snooker world rankings
(* players in bold still in tournament)
- 1. Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) – £886,000
- 2. Mark Allen (NI) – £860,500
- 3. Judd Trump (Eng) – £556,000
- 4. Neil Robertson (Aus) – £542,0000
- 5. Luca Brecel (Bel) – £476,500
- 6. Mark Selby (Eng) – £449,500
- 7. Shaun Murphy (Eng) – £445,500
- 8. Kyren Wilson (Eng) – £427,000
- 9. John Higgins (Sco) – £398,500
- 10. Mark Williams (Wal) – £391,000
- 11. Zhao Xintong (Chn) – £387,500
- 12. Ali Carter (Eng) – £310,000
- 13. Robert Milkins (Eng) – £285,500
- 14. Jack LIsowski (Eng) – £279,000
- 15. Gary Wilson (Eng) – £260,000
- 16. Ryan Day (Wal) – £245,500
- 36. Si Jiahui (Chn) – £133,000
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