Ronnie O’Sullivan is beaten by Ka Wai Cheung in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, with the match decided in a final frame. Multiple outlets describe the loss as part of O’Sullivan’s ongoing struggles in recent form.
The defeat is O’Sullivan’s return to UK play after a break since his prior appearance at the World Championship in April, where he lost to John Higgins 13–12 in the second round. While Yahoo Sports, BBC Sport and Sky Sports report the key result and the deciding-frame nature of the match, Sky News and Sky Sports also characterize the performance as among the more embarrassing losses of his career. The reports converge on O’Sullivan’s early exit and Cheung’s ability to win at the first-round stage.
