Champion of Champions 2024: Ronnie O'Sullivan stunned as Xiao Guodong completes comeback for group final spot

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Ronnie O'Sullivan's torrid recent run continued at the 2024 Champion of Champions as he surrendered a 3-0 lead in a 4-3 defeat to Xiao Guodong on Thursday. O'Sullivan started in blistering fashion, establishing a comfortable lead with a fantastic 125 break, but Xiao displayed an immense show of character to claim four consecutive frames and set up an evening clash with Shaun Murphy or Mark Selby.

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Ronnie O'Sullivan was dramatically ousted from the Champion of Champions in Bolton by a spirited Xiao Guodong fightback, falling to a 4-3 defeat after holding a 3-0 lead.

The crowd were in good voice as the seven-time world champion turned on the style in the third frame with a break of 125, as he raced to a 3-0 lead by denying Xiao a single point up until then.

But the 35-year-old from China did not let his head drop and produced a stunning fightback, sparked by a clearance of 131, before levelling the match at 3-3 as O'Sullivan was reduced to a spectator for nearly an hour.

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And Xiao completed the fantastic fightback in a stunning decider, seizing on some stray efforts from an increasingly unconfident O'Sullivan to seal an evening clash with either Mark Selby or Shaun Murphy.

Although O’Sullivan went into the match as favourite, he did not go into it as the player in form after losing in the third round of the International Championship, where his Chinese opponent reached the semi-finals.

Xiao was also full of confidence having won the Wuhan Open last month, but he showed signs of nerves as O'Sullivan looked all business from the off, needing just 11 and a half minutes to take the first frame 98-0.

His Chinese opponent, who had never played in this tournament before, looked like he might settle when he kept the scores level at 0-0 for a time period which eclipsed the length of the opener, but it was Xiao who cracked first.

O'Sullivan made sure there would be no return to the table in this frame as he accelerated to a 95-0 second frame lead.

If the crowd felt short-changed by the lack of a century, O'Sullivan made up for it in brilliant fashion as he motored through the third frame, racking up a break of 125 and leaving Xiao scoreless for the match.

Xiao, who had not played the 48-year-old since 2018 but had beaten him once before in 2011, was now hoping for a miracle capitulation from O'Sullivan and a comeback of epic proportions.

Despite the bruising start to the match, he did not panic and after a long exchange of safeties, Xiao finally recorded his first point of the match with around 50 minutes played. He did not look back from there, pulling a frame back with an impressive clearance of 130.

That sparked a resurgence from Xiao and at one stage he looked to be heading out of the fifth frame, before he turned it on its head to break for 88 and reduce the deficit to one.

What looked like what could have been a procession had turned into a competitive match, and Xiao had now got his eye in. He kept the momentum rolling on, with O'Sullivan powerless as he watched on in his chair, and he found himself heading into a decider when Xiao levelled at 3-3.

The Rocket finally had the chance to end his potting exodus as Xiao's run ended at 35 in the decider - to which he wooed the Bolton crowd with a fantastic starter before breaking down on a simple green.

Presented with the opportunity for a match-winning run, Xiao found himself slumped back in the chair after posting a further 15, sending a close-range red into the jaws of the left-middle.

But O'Sullivan could not find the formula to sink what was left, and Xiao put him on the back foot with an excellent snooker - the 48-year-old was only able to provide a foul in response.

Xiao could not finish in one visit from the free-ball, but ensured a stunning comeback victory at the second time of asking - pouncing on a slack snooker attempt to set up an evening clash with either Selby.

Selby beats Murphy to set up Xiao clash

In the other afternoon match, Selby emerged as the 4-2 victor over Murphy.

Murphy began well and took the first frame in a tight, tense encounter, with neither player able to establish any kind of rhythm.

The second frame lasted the best part of an hour and went Selby's way, levelling the scores in a match that threatened to be a test of both men's endurance.

But Selby soon began to take control. He hit a superb century break in the third frame to go in front, and though Murphy took the fourth frame to make it 2-2, his opponent appeared to be in the zone.

Selby took the fifth frame to move ahead again and this time did not look back. Despite Murphy's best efforts and a commendable performance, Selby proved too strong, producing some exceptional pots in the final frame to wrap up a hard-fought victory.

He had time for a quick break, before returning to the table for his quarter-final clash with Xiao.

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