Ronnie O'Sullivan wins first match as a married man with ‘best performance in 3 years' as he edges final-frame thriller
The Rocket is still enjoying the martial bliss of getting
London
.
3
Ronnie O'Sullivan won his first match of the season after beating Barry Hawkins in Shanghai
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
3
O'Sullivan married long-term partner Laila at the end of June
And over in the Far East, he came through a 11th-frame decider with Barry Hawkins to prevail 6-5 in the last 16 of the lucrative Shanghai Masters.
The 49-year-old claimed it was the best he had played since lifting his seventh Crucible crown three years ago in
Sheffield
.
The sport's greatest player, who is using a new cue after snapping his favourite one in January, came from 3-2 down to lead 5-3.
But
Kent
cueist Hawkins, 46, took it to the distance thanks to a 106 break – his 501st career century.
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No.6 seed O'Sullivan – who now plays
There was one moment in frame six where he banged the table twice with his fist in anger.
But it was short-lived pain as he progressed a step closer to the £210,000 winner's jackpot, gaining revenge for his elimination to the Hawk at the UK Championship last November in York.
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O'Sullivan said: 'I'm just pleased to have won the match. Barry played pretty good.
'I played probably the best I have played for maybe since I won the world
championship
in 2022.
Ronnie O'Sullivan marries Footballers' Wives star Laila Rouass just 10 months after split
'For me that was a good performance. I could have lost it as well
'The table played okay with the humidity. I don't know how it will be on Thursday, Friday or Saturday but if it stays the same, it's good.
'Usually it gets harder and harder as the week goes on. Who knows? If it stays like this, it's okay.'
snooker
world champion – and he thrilled the crowds by beating Chris Wakelin 6-2 in his season opener.
The Cyclone, who beat Wakelin at the Crucible en route to that historic triumph, scored breaks of 68, 103, 65, 73 and 59 in his usual, effortless manner.
3
World snooker champion Zhao Xintong beat Chris Wakelin in his season opener
The 28-year-old will now face Chinese potting Godfather Ding Junhui in the last eight and there is unlikely to be an empty seat at the Luwan Gymnasium.
The Asian superstar said: 'I'm really happy, because I had been looking forward to this match for a long time.
'I knew there would be some pressure but overall I think I played quite well. I stayed calm throughout the match.
'Before the match I thought I'd be nervous but I ended up staying pretty composed throughout. I'm pleased with how I handled it.
'I knew coming into this match that he would be determined to get his revenge, especially with me playing at home.'
List of all-time Snooker World Champions
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
1969 - John Spencer
1970 -
1971 - John Spencer
1972 - Alex Higgins
1973 - Ray Reardon (2)
1974 - Ray Reardon (3)
1975 - Ray Reardon (4)
1976 - Ray Reardon (5)
1977 - John Spencer (2)
1978 - Ray Reardon (6)
1979 - Terry Griffiths
1980 - Cliff Thorburn
1981 -
1982 - Alex Higgins (2)
1983 - Steve Davis (2)
1984 - Steve Davis (3)
1985 -
1986 - Joe Johnson
1987 - Steve Davis (4)
1988 - Steve Davis (5)
1989 - Steve Davis (6)
1990 -
1991 - John Parrott
1992 - Stephen Hendry (2)
1993 - Stephen Hendry (3)
1994 - Stephen Hendry (4)
1995 - Stephen Hendry (5)
1996 - Stephen Hendry (6)
1997 -
1998 -
1999 - Stephen Hendry (7)
2000 -
2001 -
2002 -
2003 - Mark Williams (2)
2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2)
2005 - Shaun Murphy
2006 - Graeme Dott
2007 - John Higgins (2)
2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3)
2009 - John Higgins (3)
2010 - Neil Robertson
2011 - John Higgins (4)
2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4)
2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5)
2014 -
2015 -
2016 - Mark Selby (2)
2017 - Mark Selby (3)
2018 - Mark Williams (3)
2019 -
2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6)
2021 - Mark Selby (4)
2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7)
2023 -
2024 -
2025 -
Most World Titles
(modern era)
7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan
6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby
3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams
2 - Alex Higgins
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