At 8-8 in his best-of-25 quarter-final against Stuart Bingham, the Rocket took the first frame of the match-deciding evening session, only for Bingham to win the next two. The 20th frame was tight, with O’Sullivan in danger of falling behind, building a break before an out-of-character miscalculation. He missed a shot to the middle-right pocket and reacted with frustration.
During the same frame, spectators were allowed to enter the arena for another match, which annoyed O’Sullivan. He clashed with the referee and expressed his frustration with the situation. He mentioned feeling targeted by some of the referees and emphasized his principles, saying he didn’t feel right about potting the ball after the incident.
Ultimately, O’Sullivan lost 13-10 and will have to wait another year to clinch his eighth World Championship title. The match featured interviews with current players, legends, pundits, and behind-the-scenes characters, making it a perfect addition to this year’s World Championship.
