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Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship in humiliating fashion, slipping to a one-sided defeat at the hands of Shaun Murphy. The seven-time world champion was among the favourites to win the tournament and scoop the £250,000 prize but suffered a surprise exit in his opening match. O'Sullivan failed to win a single frame as Murphy cruised to an astonishing whitewash in the best-of-seven encounter.
Murphy wasted little time in gaining control of the contest, narrowly missing out on a century break as he drew first blood in the opening frame. It looked like O'Sullivan was going to draw level in the second frame, but a crucial miss on the pink allowed Murphy the chance to double his lead. He duly delivered, giving his legendary opponent a huge mountain to climb.
It was more of the same in the penultimate frame as Murphy rattled off a break of 93 to move within touching distance of a hugely impressive victory.
O'Sullivan was finally given a lifeline in the fourth and final frame but ruined it for himself by inexplicably missing an easy yellow. It clearly frustrated the 489-year-old who trudged back to his chair before sitting down and flashing a pained grimace.
He didn't get another chance at the table, with Murphy wrapping up the frame in style to secure a remarkable triumph.
Speaking afterwards, he told TNT Sports: "Very, very happy. It's a long time since I tasted victory against Ronnie and they are special any time they come up, even in a short match like this.
"It's such a prestigious event and despite it only being best of seven, I was pleased with how I played and I'm delighted to get through.
"I think certainly when I was younger and much gobbier, you perhaps make a bit of a rod for your own back and certainly against someone like O'Sullivan it's very easy to start not playing your normal game.
"I just tried to go out and play snooker as I have done all season and thankfully for me, some of those long reds went in and they give you the momentum in the match
"On another day they don't go in and we're potentially having a slightly different conversation.
"Ronnie was a little unlucky with some of the splits that he played. Some of the escapes were magnificent. I just managed to get to the winning score first."
Neither player managed a 147 break during the match, meaning there were no opportunities to pot the elusive golden ball.
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