Social media users were quick to point out the difference in demeanour between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump, as both were knocked out of the World Snooker Championship this week. The ‘Rocket’ was vying for an unprecedented eighth world title at the Crucible, making light work of Guoqiang He in his opener with a 10-2 win.
However, he was knocked out in the very next round via an incredibly close 13-12 loss to John Higgins which went down to the wire. Trump, meanwhile, got the better of Gary Wilson 10-5 in his maiden match of the competition, before he suffered a 13-12 loss of his own to Hossein Vafaei. That brought the World No. 1’s hopes and dreams of a second title in Sheffield crashing down.
Outside of the shock exits on O’Sullivan and Trump’s part, eagle-eyed fans were quick to call out the difference in how they perceived both men parted ways with their opponents, as well as the Crucible. One user wrote: “What a contrast between Trump and O’Sullivan as they lose a deciding frame. One offers warm congratulations, the other interrupts his opponent’s break and scuttles away.”
Another, meanwhile, added: “He never acknowledged the crowd either, it must be difficult when you have lost, but he didnt do it before it started yesterday not going off what was shown on the tv or after, majority if not all players do it.”
However, not everyone was in agreeement with the criticism of O’Sullivan. One said: “Ronnie already needed a snooker, but I understand you want to throw criticism at Ronnie, if it makes you happy.”
Another, meanwhile, explained: “Ronnie gave a warm congratulations. In fact in stead of his usual fist bump he actually gave him a proper handshake. Making a story out of nothing, Higgins wasn’t bothered by it at all (he was asked), so nobody else should be.”
Speaking with the media in the aftermath of his loss, O’Sullivan said: “I haven’t been in any big matches really for two years and these games, it’s a different level. I was really shocked that I was able to make a game of it to be honest with you. If you watch how many important balls I missed to win frames, you know, you can’t do that – and that’s probably the difference between winning and losing.”
Trump, meanwhile, said: “It hurts but I had my chances. When you know you didn’t play a good shot it’s not like you’ve been unlucky. I’m not angry about it, I just was not good enough.”
As a result of his win, Vafaei will now take on Yu Wize in the quarter finals. Higgins also plays Neil Robertson in a mirroring match.