Overview
- O’Sullivan was beaten 6-3 by 24-year-old Chang Bingyu in the Wuhan Open semi-final on Friday after a series of uncharacteristic errors cost him key frames.
- After the loss he told WST.TV that the ‘disease’ in his game had returned and that he has committed to playing for the next 18 months to see if he can recover.
- Hours after the defeat the World Snooker Tour confirmed O’Sullivan has withdrawn from next week’s British Open in Cheltenham for medical reasons.
- The 50-year-old is a seven-time world champion but has not won a ranking tournament since January 2024, a drought that increases the urgency of his self-imposed deadline.
- Chang is now one win away from his first ranking title and his rise highlights a younger cohort closing the gap on the sport’s veterans, which could narrow O’Sullivan’s remaining window for new honours.