Ronnie O’Sullivan made a return to Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on Monday, overcoming early struggles against world number 110 Kai Wai Cheung before ultimately losing the match, according to reporting by The Irish News.
A Rocky Start Gives Way to Vintage Break-Building
For snooker fans in Belfast on Monday afternoon, the seven-time world champion’s arrival marked his first appearance in the city in four years. But the opening frame told a different story as O’Sullivan struggled for rhythm and displayed visible frustration at the table. Cheung capitalised on the errors, taking the first frame with relative ease.
"This arena is amazing" Ka Wai Cheung LOVES playing in Belfast 😍Knocking out Ronnie O'Sullivan is his best moment on tour#NIOpen @BetVictor pic.twitter.com/Fe9sDxBPKC
The momentum shifted abruptly in the second frame. O’Sullivan rediscovered a natural cue action, firing off a break of 56 before following up with a rapid, sublime 138 that electrified the auditorium. He stretched his advantage to 3-1 after notching a 72-break, though an over-eager strike on the middle pink cut that visit short.
Late Drama and Early Casualties for the Top Seeds
Cheung refused to fade. Capitalising on a loose pot from his celebrated opponent, the world number 110 strung together an 88-break before leveling the match at 3-3 with a cool 77 under pressure. In the deciding-frame shoot-out, O’Sullivan blinked first, allowing Cheung to seal a 60-break and one of the biggest wins of his career.
The afternoon’s tension mirrored a broader massacre of the seedings on day one and into Monday evening. World number three and four-time tournament winner Judd Trump became the latest high-profile casualty, slipping to a 4-3 defeat against Martin O’Donnell. Earlier, world number 10 Barry Hawkins fell 4-2 to Daniel Wells, while number 11 Chris Wakelin suffered a 4-1 exit at the hands of Jamie Jones.
| Player | Ranking | Result | Opponent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie O’Sullivan | Elite Tier | Won (Round of 32) | Kai Wai Cheung (4-3 loss for Cheung) |
| Judd Trump | World No. 3 | Lost (4-3) | Martin O’Donnell |
| Kyren Wilson | 2024 Champion | Won (Whitewash) | Ben Mertens |
| Barry Hawkins | World No. 10 | Lost (4-2) | Daniel Wells |
The Remaining Field and Form Guide
With high-profile withdrawals from world number two Wu Yize and number 15 Ding Junhui alongside Monday’s carnage, only five of the original top 16 seeds remain active in the tournament. Kyren Wilson underlined his status as a primary contender by whitewashing Belgium’s Ben Mertens, capped by an 82-break in the third frame.
Other notables advanced as the schedule progressed, including 2023 world champion Luca Brecel overcoming China’s Lei Peifan 4-1, and Jak Jones defeating Tom Ford by the same scoreline. Attention now turns to Tuesday’s sessions, featuring world number one Zhao Xintong, Mark Williams, and home favorite Mark Allen.
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