Ronnie O'Sullivan failed to reach the World Championship quarter-finals for just the second time in 13 years as he suffered a thrilling final-frame defeat against Barry Hawkins. Five-time champion O'Sullivan looked to be in desperate trouble at 12-9, but hit breaks of 124, 88 and 63 to level.
World number 11 Hawkins fluffed his first chance in the decider. But, after O'Sullivan carelessly went in off, Hawkins wrapped up the win and will play Marco Fu in the last eight. Until this Crucible decider, Hawkins, who went into the final session leading 9-7, had not beaten O'Sullivan in 10 matches over 14 years - his sole victory coming in their first meeting in 2002.
But he showed commendable nerve to hold off an opponent who scored four tons and eight fifties in a performance full of devastating long potting and astonishing break-building. '
"He makes it look so effortless sometimes - it winds me up to be honest," said Hawkins, the only player to have reached the one-table set-up in each of the past three seasons.
"There's me twitching about and he's flowing. I don't know what he thought of his performance but overall I thought he played really well.
"I am pleased with the way I held myself together because it was the most pressure I have ever been under. It was never in doubt!"
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