Snooker's biggest ever shock? Amateur James Cahill beats world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan sensationally crashed out of the first round of the World Snooker Championship today to amateur James Cahill — the biggest shock in Crucible history.

In a thrilling first-round match, the debutant at the tournament had begun the day 5-4 ahead and edged a contest that ebbed and flowed to the final frame for a famous 10-8 win.

Five-time world champion O’Sullivan had the chance to take the match to a deciding frame after a break of 42 with audacious shots, but a pot on the blue brought a foul as the 43-year-old also edged in a red.

It brought Cahill back to the table and he showed nerves of steel to close out the 18th and final frame.

Cahill said: “I was nervous before I went out. I thought I’d be nervous out there but I wasn’t. I felt really good. Hopefully I can now kick on.

“I think I showed quite a lot of bottle. It’s hard to describe. There’s so much pressure out there. I know I can get out and perform on a big stage and it doesn’t get much bigger than that.

“You don’t expect him to miss so many balls. When he starts missing a few, you think, I’ve got a chance here. I tried to be professional, commit to my own game and not get too carried away.”

A subdued O’Sullivan said: “All my limbs feel heavy. I feel absolutely shattered, drained, no energy and was struggling to stay awake.

“I feel absolutely horrendous. You have to come here physically and mentally feeling good. I’ve had a good season.

“I didn’t expect to do well and if physically not 100 per cent it makes it harder. Fair play to him.

“But I kind of left him easy chances and the lad gained some confidence. You have to give credit to him.”

Cahill (above), the first amateur in the history of the Crucible, started today’s proceedings where he left off, moving into an 8-5 lead before the mid-session interval. As play resumed, the pressure of the occasion appeared to get to the 23-year-old, who struggled for his earlier fluency while O’Sullivan recorded 104 — the first century break of the match — to cut the deficit to just two frames.

But each time O’Sullivan threatened to find his rhythm in the match he was let down by a poor pot, while Cahill kept his composure.

A missed safety at 9-8 ahead looked to have given 43-year-old O’Sullivan a way back into the contest and he appeared to be on course to set up a deciding frame, only for the mishap on the blue.