Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted he was ‘ropy’ in UK Championship defeat to Zhou Yuelong on Tuesday, feeling a change of tip did not help his cause.

The Rocket was beaten 6-4 by the 27-year-old, with Zhou scoring a first win over the seven-time world champion at the eighth time of asking.

There was some really good stuff in there from the 49-year-old, who made breaks of 71, 123, 62, 94, 65 and 56.

However, he made some surprising errors and admitted Zhou deserved to beat him.

‘Obviously he played better,’ the Rocket told the BBC. ‘I didn’t really give him much of a fight. A lot of bad mistakes really, basic ones. He deserved his victory.

‘Defeat’s defeat innit? You’ve got to just accept it as part and parcel of being a professional sportsman.’

Speaking in a post-match press conference, O’S

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