Rocket failure

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN saw his bid for an eighth UK Championship success ended by Ding Junhui in a 6-0 whitewash.

It marked the first time the world No.1 (inset) has ever been kept off the scoreboard in the sport’s three major tournaments.

The world champion tried to shrug off the quarter-final defeat and heaped praise on world No.38 Ding.

He said: “Today was one of those days. But it’s really going to ruin my career that one, isn’t it?

“I have been at this game for 30 years and taken a few knocks along the way.

“Ding played fantastically well, and I wish he could play like that more. He is a class act, a fantastic player and so good for the game.

“I’d like to see him go and win it now, and I told him that afterwards. He is ranked where he is because he struggles at some of these leisure centre venues being stuck on outside tables.

“If you put a class player on table eight in a car park with three people watching, that’s what you get. “I have not lost sleep over anything for the last 10 years. As long as it works for me and I am having fun I’ll keep pitching up. “I’ll go and have a few Guinnesses and go for some runs.”

Former world No.1 Ding, 35, said: “I am very surprised by the scoreline. Even when you are 3-0 and 4-0 up against Ronnie, you expect him to come back strongly.” Tom Ford beat Joe Perry 6-4 in their quarter-final.