Ronnie O’Sullivan Kicks Off 34th Snooker Season with Thrilling Win at Shanghai Masters
Ronnie O’Sullivan has officially launched his 34th professional snooker season with an exhilarating last-frame victory over Barry Hawkins, clinching a 6-5 win in the round of 16 at the Shanghai Masters. The 49-year-old snooker legend’s triumph comes on the heels of his recent marriage to actress Laila Rouass in East London last month, adding an extra layer of joy to his competitive debut.
The high-stakes match, which features a top prize of £210,000, saw O’Sullivan exhibit remarkable skill and determination. He considered this performance one of his best since securing his seventh world title at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre in 2022.
In this gripping encounter, O’Sullivan initially fell behind 3-2 but rallied to take a 5-3 lead, demonstrating his resilience with impressive breaks of 94, 94, 90, and 89. Despite a strong challenge from Hawkins, who forced the match into a deciding frame with a century break of 106—his 501st career century—O’Sullivan managed to secure the crucial final frame and move on to the quarter-finals.
Reflecting on his performance, O’Sullivan stated, "I played probably the best I have played for maybe since I won the World Championship in 2022." He acknowledged the competitive nature of the match, admitting, "That was a good performance. I could have lost it as well."
Despite a moment of frustration during the sixth frame, when he struck the table in irritation, O’Sullivan remained focused and praised the playing conditions, even amid Shanghai’s humidity. "The table played OK with the humidity," he noted, although he expressed some uncertainty about how the conditions would hold up throughout the tournament.
Looking ahead, O’Sullivan is set to face Kyren Wilson in the quarter-finals as he aims for early-season silverware in China. This victory also serves as a form of redemption for O’Sullivan, who had previously lost to Hawkins at the UK Championship in York last November.
Off the table, O’Sullivan’s recent marriage to Laila Rouass, 53, marks a significant milestone in his personal life. The couple exchanged vows in a heartfelt ceremony on Cable Street in Shadwell, a location chosen to honor Rouass’s Moroccan and Indian heritage. After a brief separation last year, the couple has reconciled and is reportedly planning to relocate to Dubai.
As O’Sullivan navigates both his professional and personal life, fans eagerly await his next moves in the tournament and beyond.
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