Eight-time UK champion Ronnie O’Sullivan was knocked out on the opening day of the 2024 event, losing 6-4 against world number 20 Barry Hawkins, who called the win one of the best of his career.
O’Sullivan led 3-1 and 4-2 at the York Barbican before Hawkins played some superb snooker to complete a shock win.
“It has been eight years since I’ve beaten him so that win has to be right up there for me,” said Hawkins, after only his third win in 21 matches with O’Sullivan.
“It’s a massive win. So many times I’ve played him and he has done well and other times he has been there for the taking and I’ve crumbled and could not take advantage.
“He looked sharp to me, but I felt strong at the end to get a win. Hopefully this gives me a lot of confidence and I can take that into the next round, but I can’t get carried away.”
Hawkins, 45, lost 18-12 to O’Sullivan in the 2013 World Championship final and led 9-6 in the 2021 Tour Championship semi-finals, only to lose 10-9 in the last frame.
The Englishman, who had to fight through two rounds of qualifying to get to York, admitted he feared the worst when he was drawn against 48-year-old O’Sullivan.
“I thought ‘here we go, I’m going home again’,” said Hawkins, who will face either China’s Xiao Guodong or England’s David Gilbert in the last 16.
“So many times I’ve been on the brink of winning against Ronnie and it has gone to the last frame and I’ve lost a decider. Maybe I was a bit more aggressive today, I had a bit more confidence and belief.
“Obviously this is a great result but there’s no way I will be happy if I beat Ronnie and then lose in the next round. I know I can do it, but sometimes I’ve not turned up, played awful and crumbled, but I’ve now just beaten the best player in the world.”
