Ronnie O’Sullivan’s career hit another setback as he crashed out of the Shenzhen Open to world No 64 Jiang Jun.
The seven-time world champion was making his first appearance since reaching the semi-finals of the Wuhan Open in August, and only his third ranking event of the season.
But O’Sullivan was unable to match 21-year-old Jun, who made a flying start in their first-ever meeting before sealing an impressive 5-2 victory with a break of 108.
O’Sullivan had spoken of being afflicted by a “disease” following his defeat to Chang Bingyu in Wuhan, and gave himself 18 months to save his career.
On this evidence, though, there will be growing questions over how much longer the sport will see one of its greatest-ever players competing at the highest level.
He missed two straightforward reds in the opening two frames as Jiang, a quarter-finalist at both the Scottish and Welsh Opens last year, raced into a 2-0 lead.
O’Sullivan, who has cited medical reasons for withdrawing from the majority of recent events, appeared to be seriously lacking a competitive edge. However, he managed to rouse himself before the interval, drawing level with consecutive breaks of 92 and 52.
The young Chinese player was undeterred, capitalising on a safety error from O’Sullivan to edge back in front with a break of 48 after the resumption. He then produced an impressive display of long potting to move within one frame of victory.
O’Sullivan got in first and split the reds, but missed a long pot to hand the chance back to Jiang, who coolly responded with a match-winning century.
When O’Sullivan will return to the tour remains uncertain. He has withdrawn from next week’s International Championship in Nanjing after being required to play in a UK-based qualifying round.
Elsewhere on Monday, Judd Trump whitewashed Huang Jiahao 5-0, while defending champion Mark Williams was edged out 5-4 by China’s Fan Zhengyi.
