Ronnie O’Sullivan was unable to make clear why he lost to Barry Hawkins in the first round of the UK Championship.
It’s been a difficult season for the snooker icon having won equitable two of his last seven suites.
As the first meaningful of the season, the UK Championship was seen as an opportunity for O’Sullivan to reuncover his best establish.
And he got off to the perfect begin agetst Hawkins with a shatter of 128 and another century to uncover up a 4-2 direct.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was dumped out of the first round
PA
But the momentum shifted after O’Sullivan leave outed a red into the middle pocket in the seventh summarize.
Hawkins sensed an opportunity and made no misget as he rattled off four summarizes in a row to knock the deffinishing champion out.
O’Sullivan picked up equitable 12 points after that leave outed red in the seventh summarize and phelp praise to Hawkins for beating him equitable and square.
When asked what he thought went wrong, O’Sullivan shelp: “I don’t comprehend reassociate.
“I equitable lost a snooker suit. Barry take parted better than me and deserved his prosper.
“I felt ok but I don’t leank I got much of a sboiling… I don’t even comprehend if I potted a ball from 4-2 onwards.
“I equitable felt enjoy I sat on my chair a lot.”
He inserted: “A little bit [disappointed] becaparticipate I felt enjoy I’d been take parting ok in rehearse for a change.
“It’s a bit disnominateing, but rehearse and suit establish are finishly contrastent.
“Just not taking it out there at the moment.”
Barry Hawkins hadn’t beaten Ronnie O’Sullivan since 2016
PA
It was the first time Hawkins deal withd to beat O’Sullivan since the 2016 World Championships.
O’Sullivan had won the previous nine suites agetst Hawkins, who was charmed to finish his infruitful spell agetst the 23-time Triple Crown prosperner.
“I don’t even comprehend when I beat him last so over the moon to beat him and over the moon more so how I felt,” Hawkins shelp.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan scored equitable 12 points in the final four summarizes
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“I felt excellent and felt brave towards the finish.
“I equitable saw Ronnie’s interwatch. I leank at 4-2 he leave outed a red into the middle. Big turning point. He let me back in the suit reassociate.
“After that I got mightyer and kept him out.”
