London: Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan’s hopes of an eighth Masters title disappeared yesterday when he suffered a 6-1 thrashing by Northern Irishman Mark Allen in the quarter-finals.
The 42-year-old – the sport’s greatest drawcard – has been suffering from dizzy spells although it didn’t prevent the quintuple world champion whipping Marco Fu 6-0 in the previous round.
Allen, though, seized control in a dynamic performance coming from a frame down to surge into a 4-1 lead with some deadeye potting putting together four breaks of over 50 including one of 115.
Although O’Sullivan – who has hinted he may not compete at the world championships this year as he says it is his least favourite tournament – led 35-1 in the seventh frame 31-year-old Allen fought back to take it and reach the semi-finals for the third time.
“I’m struggling, I don’t know what it is, a virus or something and I was having dizzy spells,” said O’Sullivan.
“It was a tough match for me. I can just rest up and get ready for my next event. Mark deserved his win, I didn’t give him much to make him struggle. You have to give people credit and he had a fantastic performance.”
Allen, the world number eight, will play either John Higgins or Ryan Day in the semi-finals tomorrow.