O'Sullivan - bowed out (Getty Images).
ROCKET CRASHES OUT
Click here for Crucible scoreboard
Click here for latest results
Click here for order of play
Click here for more from the Crucible
Tournament favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out of the Embassy World
Championship in the very first round on Wednesday.
The Londoner, who amassed a maximum 147 in the seventh frame of his match with
Marco Fu, lost 10-6 to the Hong Kong player.
O'Sullivan, who started the session 6-3 behind, fell further behind and at 9-4
was on the brink. He raised hopes of an unlikely revival by taking the next two
frames but lost the 16th and bowed out.
Title favourite O'Sullivan gave credit to Fu - a player who previously had not
won a match at the Crucible in three attempts, but who deserved to take his
place against Scotsman Alan McManus in the second round.
The 2001 champion had no complaints as his hopes of regaining the trophy were
extinguished.
"Credit to Marco, he stuck to his guns," admitted the 27-year-old Essex
professional who became the latest player to make a maximum break but end up
losing the match.
"He was stronger over the two days. They are all good players out there and
when you are not firing on all cylinders your opponents will take advantage.
"I would rather give credit to Marco. Weird things happen and you have just
got to deal with them."
O'Sullivan, winner of the European Open and Irish Masters titles this season,
added: "The important thing is how I deal with this result. I have accepted my
victories.
"Now, I've got to accept my losses. It's history as far as I'm concerned.
"Sometimes I cannot put my finger on what went wrong. And to be honest I
don't always want to try.
"I didn't throw in the towel but there was nothing I could do."
The end for O'Sullivan came in frame 16 as he tried desperately to stay in
contention. He had raised hopes among his supporters he could rescue the match
by closing from 9-4 down to 9-6.
However, in potting an opening red in the next frame he suffered an
unfortunate in-off.
Fu, who began the second session with a break of 133 and also knocked in 83,
stayed calm to compile a match-winning 67.
O'Sullivan is not out of pocket for his brief stay in Sheffield. He stands to
collect £169,000 for his maximum break plus an additional £15,000 as a first
round loser.
"I thought the maximum was on from the first black but I didn't fancy making
it," he said.
"I wasn't executing my shots crisply and I surprised myself when I managed
it.
"I had nightmares about missing the last black," added O'Sullivan who
missed a 147 chance in this season's LG Cup when he failed to pot the final
pink.
"I'm more disappointed I didn't give Marco more of a game for the fans - but
I'll keep smiling, it's only a game of sticks and balls."
O'Sullivan, whose defeat was watched by British Olympic swimmers James
Hickman and Stephen Parry, continued: "There are lots of things happening in my
life. I'm training to do a triathlon."
Fu, who beat O'Sullivan on his way to the 1998 Grand Prix final, refused to
be carried away by his upset win.
However, he did describe it as one of the best victories of his professional
career.
"I've beaten Ronnie before over the best-of-nine frames but this is
different.
"You have got to be consistent throughout the whole match.
"And to be able to do it here against Ronnie O'Sullivan is very special,"
added the 25-year-old from Happy Valley.
"To be honest I didn't have too many expectations going into the game. I've
been struggling in practice.
"But my safety play was very good and I scored heavily when I got the
chance.
"In the last couple of seasons I have been beating the top players but
losing to the lesser ones in the next round.
"Alan (McManus) is a great player and I know I have another tough match on
my hands.
"It was great to see Ronnie making a maximum and in fact it inspired me.
"I was hoping he would do it and when he got to 40 the crowd knew he was on
it as well."
Click here to send us your sporting feedback
