‘I think that was the title’ – BBC pundit and former snooker world champ believes ref row cost Ronnie O’Sullivan glory
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN'S World Championship woe has been blamed on two clashes with a referee - and the weight of history on his shoulders.
Ex-Crucible king Neil Robertson believes the Rocket was blown out by strange exchanges in his quarter-final nail-biter with Stuart Bingham.
"I think that was the title," BBC pundit Robertson has now said, after O'Sullivan twice seemed unsettled by ref official Desislava Bozhilova.
The legend, 48, was unhappy with where Bozhilova re-spotted a black ball, which moved after she placed it.
The Rocket won plaudits for sportsmanship with his response - as he played for safety rather than go for a pot.
But he later explained he only refused to take advantage on a point of "principle".
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The second incident came when O'Sullivan noticed fans still streaming back to their seats as he pondered a key shot.
He reacted by sitting down next to fellow Englishman Bingham and waiting.
After a long hold-up, Bozhilova assured O'Sullivan the door was shut and no more spectators could come in.
The Rocket told her to "chill" - to which she replied: "I am chill."
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Four weeks later, Robertson has suggested the unusual interventions ruffled O'Sullivan - adding to the strain of chasing a record eighth Crucible crown.
The Aussie, 42, told the Metro: "There was what happened at 10-10 with the door and the crowd. I think that was the title.
“Judd [Trump] went out earlier that day and I think he felt that realistically if he got through Stuart then he would have comfortably won it.
"Maybe it was just that, the eighth title on the line in that mini-session."
Robertson added: “There’s been a couple of moments in the Worlds that happened to him. You’ve seen it with [Peter] Ebdon in 2005. It can happen.”
Bingham went on to take the last three frames for a 13-10 win.
However, The Essex ace then crashed out to Welshman Jak Jones, who in turn lost the final 18-14 to Kettering cuer Kyren Wilson.
