Ronnie O’Sullivan Stunned, Is The Rocket’s Reign in Jeopardy?
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s early exit from the 2025 UK Championship could have far-reaching implications for the rest of his season. The 49-year-old snooker legend, who turns 50 later this week, was knocked out 6-4 by China’s Zhou Yuelong in the opening round of the tournament. Despite having multiple opportunities to win, O’Sullivan made a costly positional error in the final frame, giving Zhou the chance to secure a historic victory. It was the first time Zhou had ever defeated O’Sullivan, a major upset for the eight-time UK Championship winner.
This defeat means O’Sullivan, currently ranked fifth in the world, will drop to sixth in the rankings. The loss of £250,000 in prize money from his 2023 UK Championship win will further affect his position. If results don’t go his way in the coming months, O’Sullivan could even slip as low as ninth, with competitors like Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, and Zhao Xintong all in a position to overtake him.
While O’Sullivan’s participation in upcoming tournaments like the World Grand Prix and Players Championship is not at risk, he faces tough decisions ahead. With his part-time schedule this season, O’Sullivan may need to carefully choose which events to enter to avoid losing further ranking points. The 2026 World Open in China offers a £175,000 prize, but O’Sullivan must weigh this against defending his title in March’s World Grand Prix.
Despite the setback, O’Sullivan remains confident in his abilities. He acknowledged his mistakes in the match against Zhou but insisted that losing occasionally is part of the game. He told BBC Sport, “Obviously, he played better. A lot of bad mistakes, really. Basic ones. He deserved his victory today.” Whether O’Sullivan competes in the Masters next month remains uncertain, but he plans to focus on rest and recovery before making any decisions in the new year. Ultimately, even legends like O’Sullivan have off days, but they always bounce back.
