• Players Championship

De Lu shocks O'Sullivan to reach last eight

ESPN staff
March 27, 2014
Ronnie O'Sullivan hit the tournament's highest break so far with a 140 total clearance © PA Photos
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World champion Ronnie O'Sullivan crashed out of the Players Championship Grand Final after a shock 4-3 second round loss to Yu De Lu at Preston's Guild Hall.

De Lu edged the opening frame by a single point after the Rocket's break of 64, but O'Sullivan levelled when he took a scrappy second frame.

A century break of 102 regained the advantage for De Lu before O'Sullivan replied with visits of 53 and 57 in frame four to level proceedings once more.

O'Sullivan looked to have found his groove with a 140 total clearance, the highest break of the tournament so far, but De Lu continued to prove a stubborn opponent to break down as he forced the match into a deciding frame.

A fortunate plant helped De Lu to a 57 break and sniff of victory, but he let O'Sullivan back in after missing a difficult black.

However, De Lu's mistake did not prove costly as O'Sullivan missed a red on 16 to give the Chinaman victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

Judd Trump cruised past recent World Open champion Shaun Murphy, making breaks of 58, 53, 65 and 73 in his 4-0 whitewash. Elsewhere, Gerard Greene came back from 3-0 down to defeat Anthony Hamilton 4-3 for a spot in the last eight.

In Thursday's afternoon session, there were wins for John Higgins, Marco Fu and Mark Allen.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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