Ronnie O'Sullivan has fallen victim to one of the biggest shocks in sporting history after being beaten by James Cahill at the Snooker World Championship at the Crucible.
Debutant qualifier Cahill is the first amateur to play in the tournament but he showed no signs of nerves to beat the five-time champion 10-8 in their first-round match in Sheffield.
O'Sullvan had been as short as 1/50 before the match started, while Cahill's odds of winning the tournament have shortened from 2000/1 to 66/1 after his dramatic victory over O'Sullivan.
The 23-year-old Cahill, a nephew of snooker legend Stephen Hendry by marriage, had led 5-4 heading into the second session on Tuesday morning.
An off-colour O'Sullivan, who blamed insomnia for his lack of form, mounted a comeback - bringing the scores back to 8-8 - only for Cahill to win two dramatic frames to knock the World number one out.
Cahill, who hails from Blackpool, won three qualifiers to become the first amateur player to appear at the World Championship.
“I’ve always believed in myself and I’ve always believed I can beat anyone,” said Cahill. “I’ve shown that today.”
Speaking about his insomnia, O’Sullivan said: “My limbs feel very heavy, I’m drained, I have no energy, I’m struggling to stay awake. I feel absolutely horrendous.
“You have to come here feeling good. Mentally I was up for it – I’ve had a good season – and I tried to hang in there. But he [Cahill] has come here and played brilliantly. Fair play to him.”
Cahill will face Scotland’s Stephen Maguire in the second round.
