Ronnie O’Sullivan, the reigning UK champion and world number one, suffered a surprising first-round exit at the 2024 UK Championship, losing 6-4 to Barry Hawkins. Hawkins, ranked 20th in the world, produced a stunning comeback to defeat O’Sullivan, who had previously dominated their head-to-head record.
O’Sullivan started strongly, showcasing his trademark scoring prowess with century breaks of 128 and 114 to take an early lead. However, Hawkins fought back, capitalizing on O’Sullivan’s visible frustration and missed opportunities.
Hawkins went on a remarkable run, scoring over 290 unanswered points to win four consecutive frames and secure a memorable victory. Despite a late surge from O’Sullivan, Hawkins held his nerve to close out the match.
O’Sullivan, gracious in defeat, acknowledged Hawkins’ strong performance and emphasized his own enjoyment of the game. He expressed his focus on moving forward to the next tournament.
This upset marks a significant early shake-up in the UK Championship, with one of the tournament favorites exiting in the first round. Hawkins, meanwhile, will look to build on this momentum as he progresses in the competition.
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