Zhou Yuelong dumps Ronnie O’Sullivan out of the UK Championship

Zhou Yuelong recorded a first career win over Ronnie O’Sullivan to book his place in the Last 16 of the UK Championship in York on Tuesday.

Zhou had lost his previous seven meetings with O’Sullivan, three of which at the UK Championship, but stopped the rot in style with a 6-4 victory at The Barbican.

O’Sullivan was making his first ranking event appearance in the UK this season but saw his hopes ended at the first hurdle in York for the second year running.

Zhou took the opening two frames before O’Sullivan hit back to level at the interval, but the Chinese ace went on to clinch four of the next six frames to complete a landmark win.

“Two years before I lost in a decider in the quarter-final to Ronnie,” Zhou told BBC Sport.

“The shot on the black with a big kick he looked like he was going to win the frame but it turned around. Everyone knows if you keep working hard you can win big trophies.

“Two months ago I saw Jack [Lisowski] win. I have lost many times, I know there will be one coming soon. I am just trying to be patient.

“I need to prove this mentally. Now I am just trying to learn from Zhao Xintong and relax. He gave me a lot of advice.”

O’Sullivan spurned four key chances to win the opening frame as Zhou hit the front before punishing a missed red along the cushion from ‘The Rocket’ to double his lead.

A costly miscue from Zhou gifted O’Sullivan the third frame as he got off and running with a break of 72, before following in with a vintage break of 123 to restore parity.

After O’Sullivan had broken down on 62, Zhou snatched the fifth frame with a 47 clearance to go back in front, but the 49-year-old fired back with a six-minute break of 94 for three-all.

Zhou replied with back-to-back frames to create daylight for the first time, crashing in a terrific 125 clearance for 5-3, but O’Sullivan dug deep to edge the ninth frame and stay in touch.

However, the eight-time UK Champion squandered numerous chances to force a decider, breaking down on 58, as Zhou stepped in to seal victory.

O’Sullivan, who turns 50 on Friday, was competing in his first match in a UK tournament since his semi-final defeat to Zhao Xintong in the World Championship back in May.

“He played better,” admitted O’Sullivan. “I missed a lot and some bad, basic mistakes. Defeat is defeat.

“He deserved his victory. You just have to accept it. It is part of being a professional sportsman.”

Meanwhile, Mark Selby safely progressed to the Last 16 following a 6-4 victory over Lei Peifan.

Two-time UK Champion Selby stormed into a 5-0 lead with breaks of 51, 82, 75 and 133 before former Scottish Open champion Lei hit back with successive breaks of 78 and 60 to reduce the deficit.

Selby, though, quashed any hopes of a miraculous comeback from the Chinese youngster as he clinched victory in frame eight to set up a meeting with Zhou on Thursday.