Ronnie O’Sullivan’s troubles at the world championships have been blamed on two clashes with referees and the weight of history on his shoulders.
Former Crucible champion Neil Robertson believes a bizarre exchange with Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals caused his rocket to explode.
“I think that was the title,” BBC commentator Robertson said after O’Sullivan was twice upset by referee Desislava Bozilova.
The 48-year-old legend was dissatisfied with where Bozhilova rediscovered the black ball, and it moved after he placed it.
The Rockets were praised for their sportsmanship in response, as they played it safe rather than going for the pot.
However, he later explained that he had simply refused the mistreatment on grounds of “principle”.
The second incident occurred when O’Sullivan noticed that the fans were still back in their seats as he was contemplating an important shot.
He responded by sitting next to Bingham, a fellow Englishman, and waiting.
After a long wait, Ms. Bozhilova assured Ms. O’Sullivan that the doors were closed and no more spectators would be allowed in.
Rocket told her to “calm down” and she replied, “I’m calm.”
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Four weeks later, Robertson suggested the unusual intervention had unsettled O’Sullivan and added to the pressure on him to win a record eighth time at the Crucible.
The 42-year-old Australian told Metro newspaper: “There was something that happened to the door and the audience at 10-10. I think that was the title.”
“Judd [Trump] He was out early that day and I think he felt that realistically if he could get past Stuart he could win comfortably.
“Maybe that was all there was for an eighth title in that mini-session.”
Robertson added: “That happened to him a few times at the World Championships. [Peter] Ebdon in 2005. It can happen. ”
Bingham won the final three frames to win 13-10.
However, the Essex ace then lost to Wales’ Jack Jones, who in turn lost 18-14 to Kettering cue Kyren Wilson.