O'Sullivan loses to Cheung in NI Open return

Ronnie O'Sullivan's poor form continues as the seven-time world champion is beaten in a deciding frame by Ka Wai Cheung in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open. O'Sullivan was playing in the NI Open for the first time since 2022 Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the Northern Ireland Open as he lost the final three frames to lose 4-3 to world-ranked 110 player Ka Wai Cheung in Belfast. After a strong start from Cheung, O'Sullivan won three frames in a row before a valiant comeback from the Hong Kong player knocked out the 50-year-old. Cheung will now face the winner of Stuart Bingham and Yao Pengcheng's match for a spot in the last 16.

O'Sullivan became the eighth top-16 player to lose of the nine who have played at the Waterfront Hall so far. Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Xiao Guodong, Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter fell on Sunday, with Chris Wakelin, Barry Hawkins and O'Sullivan following them out of the tournament on Monday. O'Sullivan had not played at a tournament in the United Kingdom since April's World Championship loss to John Higgins and it was not the victorious return he would have hoped for. The world number 13 was making a first appearance at the NI Open since 2022 and was playing in a Home