Bingham Ends O'Sullivan's Chase For Eighth Title

Just as he did in 2015 on his way to the title, Stuart Bingham floored Ronnie O'Sullivan at the quarter-final stage at the Crucible, winning 13-10 to reach the last four of the Cazoo World Championship.

Draw / How To Watch 

O'Sullivan's chances of an eighth title, which would move him one ahead of Stephen Hendry's total, are over for another year, as he lost seven of the last nine frames having led 8-6. Earlier in the day, Jak Jones registered a seismic shock when he knocked out Judd Trump, and Bingham created another huge upset with victory over snooker's all-time greatest player.

O'Sullivan had been on course for a career-best season, having won five titles including the UK Championship and the Masters. But his hopes of landing all three Triple Crown events in the same season for the first time are over, and he also loses the world number one ranking which he had held since April 2022. Mark Allen will climb to the top of the official list for the first time in his career and become the 12th player ever to hold that status. 

World number 29 Bingham is through to his third Crucible semi-final and is aiming to become only the seventh player to lift the trophy in Sheffield more than once, following Steve Davis, Hendry, Mark Williams, O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Mark Selby. The 47-year-old from Basildon, who beat Shaun Murphy in the 2015 final, will be up against Jones over 33 frames over the next three days. It's some turnaround for Bingham who has suffered from loss of form and problems with his eyesight in recent seasons and had not previously reached a ranking event semi-final since the 2021 World Grand Prix. 

With Kyren Wilson up against David Gilbert in the other semi-final, this is the first time that three qualifiers have made the last four since 1977 (which was the first year at the Crucible, when there were only eight seeds). Bingham is the only man among the quartet who has lifted the trophy before and, with his game slotting into gear, is drawing on memories of his triumph nine years ago.

In a high quality start to tonight's concluding session, O'Sullivan took the first frame with a break of 136 to go 9-8 ahead, then Bingham levelled with a 63. In frame 19, O'Sullivan missed a difficult red to a centre pocket on 39, and his opponent punished him with a fine 67 clearance. 

Bingham had first chance in frame 20 and made 35 before rattling a tough red in the jaws of a baulk corner. O'Sullivan replied with 62 before missing the final yellow, but later converted a long brown for 10-10. Leading 39-18 in frame 21, Bingham failed to pot a difficult pink to a top corner, but O'Sullivan's attempted clearance ended when he missed the last red along the side cushion, and his opponent capitalised to edge ahead.

Another error from 48-year-old O'Sullivan, missing the black when trying to split the pack on 23, let Bingham in for a superb 104, his third century of the match and fourth of the tournament, for 12-10. At 52-0 in frame 23, Bingham missed the pink to a centre pocket, and O'Sullivan's response ended on 48 when he failed to pot an awkward yellow. This time there was no mistake from Bingham as he took the colours to beat O'Sullivan for only the fourth time in 22 career meetings.

"I enjoyed going toe to toe with the best player ever, and I can't believe I came out on top," said Bingham. "Something clicked at 10-10, I felt great and went for my shots. This place brings the best out of me and I played with a smile on my face, just like I did in 2015. 

"I am the only one left who has held that trophy but that doesn't count for much. Everyone left will think they have a chance. Jak has just knocked out Judd and he obviously loves it out there. I played him in Gibraltar a few years ago and he hammered me 4-0 so I know what he can do. I need a good night's sleep to be ready for tomorrow."

O'Sullivan said: "I enjoyed it, and the number one thing for me is to enjoy the game. For the first time in two years I feel like I want to play. I look forward to getting my cue out and the sound of the balls. That's nothing to do with winning titles. You can't win them all."