UK Snooker Championship: China's Zhou Yuelong beaten by Ronnie O'Sullivan
Updated 12:01, 07-Dec-2018
CGTN
["europe"]
China's Zhou Yuelong suffered a crushing 6-0 defeat to defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the third round of the UK Snooker Championship on Monday.
The 20-year-old Zhou, ranked 32nd in the world, lost to one of the sport's greatest player O'Sullivan in just 84 minutes.
O'Sullivan, who turns 43 on Wednesday, will set new records of seven UK titles, surpassing the records he currently shares with Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry respectively.
The five-time world champion thus booked his place in the last 16, where he will take on Jack Lisowski or Marco Fu in York, on either Wednesday or Thursday.
"I felt for my opponent because it's hard out there when things are not going for you," said O'Sullivan. "Zhou wants to make a statement and show the snooker world what he is capable of because I know he is capable of wonderful things. I made a few mistakes but he didn't punish me, I dodged a bullet."
"It is a learning curve for him, but at some point, you have to stop learning and start giving out a few lessons yourself. I think he's going to win tournaments because he's a superb player."
Zhou's compatriot Lu Ning ranked 112th in the world, shocked world number 13 Luca Brecel 6-4 to reach his the last 16 of a ranking event for the second time.
Another Chinese player Yan Bingtao was stopped by world number 11 Kyren Wilson 6-2.
Wilson reached the last 16 of this tournament for the first time with a 6-2 win with runs of 89, 74, 115, 68 and 74.
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency