Ronnie O’Sullivan sleepwalked out of the World Championship in the biggest Crucible shock of all time.
The Rocket suffered a stunning 10-8 defeat in Sheffield to James Cahill – the first amateur player ever to reach the iconic venue.
Five-time champion O’Sullivan was the title favourite after a spectacular season that saw him win five tournaments from only 10 played – and reclaim the No.1 spot for the first time in nine years.
But a dozy O’Sullivan, suffering badly from insomnia and a bug, crashed out at the first hurdle, struggling to stay awake.
O’Sullivan was 50-1 ON to win the match – putting it up there with sporting shocks such as Buster Douglas beating boxing legend Mike Tyson and Division Two Sunderland beating FA Cup holders Leeds to claim the trophy in 1973.
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He said: “All my limbs feel heavy, legs and arms, I had no energy and I just feel shattered and drained. I was struggling to stay awake. I feel absolutely horrendous. You have to come here feeling mentally and physically good – mentally, I was OK, but I didn’t expect to do well here.
“I’ve had insomnia for a few years. Eventually, you get used to having two or three hours’ sleep, then I had a spell of sleeping better. Then when it gets worse again you really feel it, as your body is not adjusted.
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“I haven’t been sleeping great for the last couple of nights. I was hoping to get through this one and have days off to get better, but it wasn’t meant to be. I was under the weather and felt exhausted – but that’s just answering the question and nothing should detract from James’s achievement.
“Everyone gets these things, if you could take a magic pill then you would to protect yourself. It goes to show you can do all the right things trying to eat well, stay healthy and fit and it may not work.”
