O’Sullivan Exits 2019 ManBetX Welsh Open & Noppon Saengkham Hits Maximum Perfection

The Rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan is yet another top player to fall in the Welsh Open in Cardiff at the Motorpoint Arena.

The 43-year-old 19 major winner exited in the last 32 at the hands of Switzerland’s Alexander Ursenbacher, 22, who’s not had much to shout about for a year and a half since his semi-final run in the English Open.

But today on Valentine’s Day, the Swiss fish, as he is nicknamed, had plenty to shout about as he ran out a 4 – 2 winner against the Rocket – and in the final frame he needed, he potted an outstanding yellow with the rest with lots of side and screw to get back onto the green. He said after Ursenbacher, ranked 71, that if he missed the yellow, he’d probably snooker him on the green, but he knew if he potted the yellow he would win the match.

O’Sullivan joins a growing list of stars to shockingly exit early from this year’s Welsh Open the final part of the Home Nations series. Mark Allen also got knocked out in Cardiff, who is struggling with form at the moment.Barry Hawkins is also out in the last 32.

First Maximum For Noppon & 149th 147

Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham, 26, has racked his first career 147 in Cardiff. Neil Robertson, who made the first a day or so ago, will now have to share 17K with Noppon who held himself together well and fisted the air in celebration after he made the perfect 36 pots in a frame against Mark Selby. That’s the 10th maximum of the season, and with plenty of snooker still to play this season, there’s a chance the highest number of maximums, 13, in a season could be overthrown. We’ll see!