Ronnie O’Sullivan knocked out of Champion of Champions by Xiao Guodong

Ronnie O’Sullivan was knocked out in the opening round of the 2024 Champion of Champions tournament in Bolton by China’s Xiao Guodong.

O’Sullivan, 48, a four-time winner of the event, had taken a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven-frames match, only to lose 4-3 after a superb comeback from Xiao.

Breaks of 95 and 125 in frames two and three respectively had seven-time world champion O’Sullivan on course to reach Thursday’s quarter-final at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.

But Xiao produced breaks of 130, 88 and 85 before winning the final frame 64-35.

It is O’Sullivan’s second consecutive defeat. Last week, he was knocked out of the 2024 International Championship by Pang Junxu, also from China, at the last-32 stage.

Xiao will face Mark Selby in the quarter-finals after his 4-2 victory over fellow Englishman Shaun Murphy.

Selby recorded breaks of 96 and 132, clinching the win by taking the final frame 115-0.