Ronnie O’Sullivan Storms Into Heyball Last 32 as £500,000 Dream Gains Momentum
Ronnie O’Sullivan has taken another significant step in his remarkable cue-sports career, securing a place in the last 32 of the 2026 Huacai World Open after successfully negotiating the qualification phase on his competitive heyball debut.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever to pick up a cue, O’Sullivan arrived in Deqing facing a new challenge. While his achievements in snooker are legendary, heyball presents a different test altogether, requiring players to adapt to a unique format and style of play. Despite entering unfamiliar territory, “The Rocket” quickly demonstrated the class, composure, and competitive instincts that have defined his career for more than three decades.
His campaign began in impressive fashion with a commanding 15-9 victory over Ivan Kakovskiy. The win immediately signaled that O’Sullivan was not in China merely to make up the numbers but to challenge seriously for the title.
The toughest moment of his qualification run came against Chen Siming, who handed the Englishman a heavy 15-5 defeat. Many debutants might have struggled to recover from such a setback, but O’Sullivan responded in the manner champions often do.
Needing a strong performance to keep his tournament hopes alive, he produced a resilient display against Suung Kim, battling to a hard-earned 15-12 victory. The result sealed his passage into the knockout rounds and ensured his heyball adventure would continue.
Now, with the tournament moving into a straight-elimination format, the stakes are even higher. O’Sullivan remains in the hunt for a first prize worth more than £500,000 and has already shown enough quality to suggest he could be a genuine contender.
For a player who has conquered almost every challenge snooker has offered, a new chapter is unfolding. The Rocket’s heyball journey is only just beginning—and the knockout stage promises to reveal just how far he can go.
