Cheung wins deciding frame to knock O'Sullivan out of Northern Ireland Open

Ka Wai Cheung overturned a 3-1 deficit to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 4-3 in the first round of the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast on Monday. BBC Sport reported that the world number 110 won the final three frames, ending O'Sullivan's first appearance at the tournament since 2022 at the opening hurdle.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVssjPftk0A

Cheung took the first frame before O'Sullivan responded with three in succession. Breaks of 56, 138 and 72 put the seven-time world champion one frame from victory at the Waterfront Hall. The century was the highest break of that sequence, but O'Sullivan could not turn his two-frame advantage into a place in round two.

The match changed direction in the fifth frame when O'Sullivan missed a red and Cheung produced a break of 88 to stay in contention. The Hong Kong player followed with 77 to level the scores and force a decider. Another O'Sullivan miss then gave Cheung an opening, which the 27-year-old converted with a break of 61.

The defeat marked an unsuccessful return to UK tournament competition for O'Sullivan. According to the BBC, the 50-year-old had not played in a tournament in the United Kingdom since losing to John Higgins at the World Championship in April. Ranked 13th, the three-time Northern Ireland Open finalist was also making his first Home Nations appearance since the 2024 English Open.

Speaking to BBC Sport NI afterwards, Cheung said he was pleased to have maintained his level under pressure. He acknowledged feeling apprehensive before the match because of O'Sullivan's support in the arena, but described facing and beating him as a particularly satisfying career experience. Cheung will next play the winner of Stuart Bingham's match against Yao Pengcheng for a last-16 place.

O'Sullivan's exit continued a difficult opening to the event for highly ranked players. The BBC reported that eight of the first nine top-16 players to compete had lost. Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Xiao Guodong, Shaun Murphy and Ali Carter went out on Sunday, followed by Chris Wakelin, Barry Hawkins and O'Sullivan on Monday.

Elsewhere, Daniel Wells defeated Hawkins 4-2 and Jamie Jones beat Wakelin 4-1. Kyren Wilson, the 2024 Northern Ireland Open champion, advanced with a 4-0 victory over Ben Mertens, while Luca Brecel overcame Lei Peifan 4-1.