FIVE-TIME champion Ronnie O’Sullivan was knocked out of the World Championship, losing 13-10 to China’s Ding Junhui in the quarterfinals Wednesday.

    O’Sullivan’s tournament had been overshadowed by his claims that he had been bullied by snooker bosses.

    But he seemed unaffected by the controversy as he scored a tournament-high break of 146 to win three from four frames and get back to 11-9, having trailed 10-6.

    The pair then shared the next two frames and Ding held his nerve, scoring a classy 117 to earn a semifinal place against Mark Selby.

    The reigning champion scored 139 and 143 but it was no surprise the latter mark was beaten by O’Sullivan in a match that featured five centuries and 18 breaks of more than 50. Only one of the 23 frames did not include a half-century.

    O’Sullivan, 41, who hugged his equally emotional opponent at the end, said: “It was a fantastic match and I am really pleased to be involved. I really enjoyed it. I would rather lose a good match than win an awful one.

    “Ding is a special lad, a beautiful guy. He is all good; he doesn’t have a bad bone in his body.

    “He wants to win this title so bad. He is in a great place and I wish him all the best.”

    Ding has always been clinical in among the balls and he looks very strong in that department, but beating Liang Wenbo from behind, showing heart and determination, and now beating O’Sullivan, he has answered a lot of questions at the Crucible that he has not answered before.

    It is a bit like a video game for Ding, he has beaten the boss but now has to go to the next level to face a bigger boss — Mark Selby.

    Facing the world champion will be a bigger hurdle mentally and we cannot say how it will pan out. Selby has looked astonishing so far, if Ding beats him, then he has to play someone great in the final. He is only halfway through in sessions played.

    Ding, last season’s runner-up, is looking to become the first Asian player to lift the world title, and said he “played great.”

    “I kept my form from the first frame to the last frame and I put him under pressure,” Ding said.

    “I do not have a good record against him but every time I had a chance I did well. He was not in his best form but he is still good enough.

    “Ronnie said I looked a different player and I looked stronger. I thank him. To beat him you have to work hard. I am more confident.”(SD-Agencies)