UK Championship: Zhou Yuelong knocks out 'king of the Barbican' Ronnie O'Sullivan

Dubai-based O’Sullivan – who celebrates his 50th birthday on Friday – was playing in his first match in Britain since the World Championship in May, but could not get beyond the opening hurdle at the York Barbican, losing 6-4 to China’s Zhou Yuelong.

“He played better,” said O’Sullivan. “I missed a lot and some bad, basic mistakes. Defeat is defeat.

“He deserved his victory. You just have to accept it. It is part of being a professional sportsman.

“I think since the start of the tournament I’ve enjoyed playing. (But) that was a bit of a ropey performance. I missed a lot of balls and I didn’t deserve to win.”

Zhou – who lives and trains in Sheffield – found himself 2-0 ahead after two opening scrappy frames, taking both after clearing up the colours.

But O’Sullivan clicked into gear with breaks of 71, 123, 62 and 94.

The only surprise was that it was the Chinese potter who led 4-3. After drawing level at 2-2, O’Sullvan – who had won all previous seven meetings between the pair – looked set to go in front for the first time with a break of 62. But Zhou clawed his way back to pinch the frame with a 47 clearance.

O’Sullivan’s 94 restored parity, and once again looked in control in frame seven, but poor contact on the black allowed his opponent to nip in and hoover the colours up.

If Zhou had pinched his first four frames, he showed his class in frame eight with a super break of 125 – his first 50-plus score of the match – to edge 5-3 in front, and needing just one more frame for victory.

A 65 break from O’Sullivan left Zhou needing a snooker, which he produced when he tucked the white ball behind the yellow on the final red, resulting in his opponent sinking the cue ball.

But it was O’Sullivan who conjured up a fine snooker of his own on the yellow which saw him clinch the frame to make it 5-4.

Zhou – the 27-year-old who reached the final of this season’s English Open – was in the balls first but the drama was not over. O’Sullivan knocked in a 56, and looked set to force a decider when Zhou gifted an easy chance on the yellow.But somehow, O’Sullivan snookered himself on the green, leaving a long-range chance for the Chinese cueman which he hammered in as he went on to clinch victory. Zhou said: “I am so excited. He is a legendary snooker player and best in history. He is the king of the Barbican. If you can beat Ronnie it has to give you confidence. This is a big victory for my career.

“I’ve played Mark Selby many times. He is another legendary player. I need to prepare and play well tomorrow.

“I checked out of my accommodation this morning. I booked one week ago when the draw came out. It is very expensive and I didn’t know if I was winning or losing. I need to stay now. I will find somewhere near this venue.”

Reward for Zhou is a last 16 match with Mark Selby, who beat China’s Lei Peifan 6-2, including a top break of 133.

Zhou was one of 12 Chinese players arriving at the Barbican, seven have reached the second round, and one is guaranteed of a quarter-final spot as Zhang Anda meets world champion Zhao Xintong in the last 16.

Both players are based in Sheffield, and Zhang had to come through qualifying in Wigan to reach York. Zhang – who made a 147 in last year’s tournament – trailed Gary Wilson 5-3 in the opening round, before clinching a 6-5 win.

Zhang said: “I don’t have high expectations for the next round. Since it is two Chinese players facing each other, we’ve already secured a spot in the quarter-finals, which is great.

“I just hope we can put on a good show and it isn’t one-sided, especially not on my end!”

Another qualifier in the last 16 is Scotland’s Scott Donaldson, who knocked out world No 7 Mark Allen 6-1.