Ronnie O’Sullivan misplaced 6-4 to Si Jiahui on the quarter-final stage of the inaugural Saudi Arabia Masters in Riyadh on Thursday.
China’s Jiahui led 2-0 after which 5-2 however O’Sullivan gained two frames in a row to threaten a comeback earlier than his opponent sealed victory.
England’s seven-time world champion O’Sullivan had complained that “the best way I have been taking part in, it is no enjoyable for me” after a comeback win over Zhang Anda within the earlier spherical.
Jiahui will face Wales’ Mark Williams within the semi-finals after his 6-0 defeat of Englishman Jimmy Robertson – together with a break of 133 within the ultimate body.
Judd Trump will play Shaun Murphy within the different semi-final.
World primary Trump beat Australian Neil Robertson 6-3 of their quarter-final.
Trump surged to a 3-0 lead, making a break of 100 within the third body for his 997th profession century, earlier than Robertson pegged the benefit again to 4-3.
However in the long run Bristol-born Trump gained by because the problem from his fellow former world champion light.
Trump’s fellow Englishman Murphy went by with a 6-2 victory over China’s Xiao Guodong, albeit making just one half-century break – a 61 within the eighth body.
The launch of the Saudi Arabia Masters has made it essentially the most profitable event in snooker after the World Championship.
Organisers are calling it the unofficial ‘fourth main’ – following the World Championship, Masters and UK Championship – because it provides a £2.3m prize fund with £500,000 going to the winner.
