Ronnie O'Sullivan has now lost three tournament matches in a row
Eight-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan was knocked out of the UK Championship as he fell to a shock 6-4 first-round defeat by China's Zhou Yuelong on Tuesday at York Barbican.
O'Sullivan, who turns 50 on Friday, was playing his first match in a UK tournament since his 17-7 loss to Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals of the World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield in May.
Despite making rapid and entertaining breaks of 71, 123, 62, 94, 65 and 56 against Zhou, O'Sullivan lost four frames on the black, including the seventh when he had led 64-0, only to lose it 65-64.
Zhou, 29th in the world rankings, was never behind and an excellent clearance of 125 took him one frame from victory at 5-3.
