Ronnie O'Sullivan will have to wait at least another year to try for a record eighth world title after going down 10-13 to Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals of this year's edition. Just like in 2015, Bingo once again took down The Rocket at the same stage of the tournament in Sheffield.
Nothing separated the two players after the first two sessions. The decisive third session started at 8-8. O'Sullivan made a great clearance of 136, but his opponent hit back with breaks of 63 and 67. A run of 62 was enough for Ronnie to restore parity at 10-10.
However, it turned out to be the last frame in his account - Bingham took the next three games, showing stability under pressure and scoring 122 points in the 22nd frame. O'Sullivan, for his part, missed a yellow ball at 10-12 and again fell victim to one of his sparring partners over the years. In 2015, the pair again played each other in the last eight at the Crucible and again the younger of the two Englishmen emerged victorious – then 13-9, en route to a maiden world crown.
After Judd Trump suffered a surprise loss to Welshman Jak Jones earlier on Wednesday, The Rocket was followed by another of the greats - four-time world champion John Higgins, who fell to Kyren Wilson 8-13. The Warrior, the 2020 world runner-up, will play David Gilbert, who finished off Scotland's Stephen Maguire 13-8 frames, in the semi-finals. Bingham's opponent in the other semi-final is Jones.
For the first time since 1977, three qualifiers have reached the 1/2-finals of the World Championship - Gilbert, Jones and Bingham.
Snooker will also have its new number 1 in the world rankings from next season. This is Northern Ireland's Mark Allen, who was knocked out in the second round at the Crucible by Higgins. /BGNES
