O’Sullivan’s defeat to Bingham means his unbroken sequence on the prime of the world rankings relationship again to April 2022 will come to an finish this month when he’s changed by Mark Allen.
The 48-year-old additionally noticed his hopes of claiming all three Triple Crown occasions in a season dashed, having already triumphed within the UK Championship and Masters this time period.
Nevertheless, Bingham will hope his deserved win represents a very good omen having additionally superior previous the identical opponent on the similar stage 9 years in the past.
Having resumed at 8-8, a chic 136 from O’Sullivan would have unnerved most opponents however Bingham dug in and confirmed his resolve.
He compiled two half-centuries to edge again forward and was not unsettled by a few different sudden situations.
Play was briefly halted within the twenty first body when Bingham missed a pink to the left nook and O’Sullivan advised referee Desislava Bozhilova “to relax” after retaking his seat sad on the quantity of noise coming from individuals coming into the opposite aspect of the auditorium.
O’Sullivan had earlier claimed some referees “have it in for me” after a weird incident at 6-5, when he opted to play secure fairly than opting to try a pot on a purple near the black as a result of he believed the black had not been noticed accurately.
He repeatedly requested referee Bozhilova to switch the ball as a result of it seemed to be rolling fractionally off its spot whereas he was on a break of 20 and finally misplaced the body.
The 2010 world champion Neil Robertson, talking on BBC Two, known as it one of many “biggest bits of sportsmanship” he has seen.
Nevertheless 41-time rating occasion winner O’Sullivan then advised Eurosport: “To be sincere with you, a number of the refs, I believe they have it in for me, so I simply wished to show to her that she acquired it unsuitable.
“I did not be ok with potting the ball after that, however I simply wished to make the purpose. I am not that hungry to win it in that approach, so as soon as the precept’s been made I can sleep at evening.”
World Snooker rejected O’Sullivan’s allegations and stated Bozhilova, who has refereed on the skilled tour for 12 years, acted accurately all through.
