‘Shocking’ Rocket goes under to Lee

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN described his form as “shocking” after his hopes of defending his European Open were crushed by Stephen Lee yesterday.

After a three hour, 32 minute grind one of the longest best-of- nine-frame matches O'Sullivan has been involved in Lee squeezed through 5-4 to reach the semi-finals of the event in Malta.

Lee now plays Scot Stephen Maguire, who swelled the list of upsets with a 5-3 victory over his regular practice partner John Higgins.