In a stunning upset, Ronnie O’Sullivan was eliminated in the first round of the 2024 Champion of Champions tournament in Bolton, losing to China’s Xiao Guodong. After establishing a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven match, O’Sullivan faltered as Xiao made a remarkable comeback, winning 4-3 with impressive breaks of 130, 88, and 85. This defeat marks O’Sullivan’s second consecutive early exit, following his recent loss to Pang Junxu at the International Championship.