O’Sullivan ‘sorry’ for walkout on Hendry

RONNIE O’Sullivan last night expressed regret for his amazing Maplin UK Championship walkout, admitting frustration with his game had got the better of him.

‘The Rocket’ added the latest chapter to the story of a career loaded with controversy when he conceded his quarter-final in York against Stephen Hendry after only five frames, trailing 4-1.

The 31-year-old had just won his first frame and was on a break of 24 when he attempted to cut in a red but missed, and immediately went to shake hands with Hendry and referee Jan Verhaas.

Apart from briefly stopping off at Hendry’s dressing room to wish his opponent well, O’Sullivan immediately left the Barbican Centre without offering any explanation for his actions.

Even by O’Sullivan’s standards it was a dramatic turn of events and officials of World Snooker, the sport’s governing body, must now decide whether to punish the player for the embarrassment he has heaped on their second most prestigious ranking tournament.

But in a statement released by his PR representatives, the world number three apologised for letting down his large contingent of supporters and admitted he had done the wrong thing.

“I wish I could have played a better game today but I had a bad day in the office,” said O’Sullivan.

“I got so annoyed with myself that I lost my patience and walked away from a game that, with hindsight, I should have continued.

“I’m really sorry to let down the fans who came to see me play – it wasn’t my intention to disappoint them and for that I am truly apologetic.

Hendry insisted he had taken no satisfaction from O’Sullivan’s exit, which meant the Scot was awarded a 9-1 victory that sent him through to a semi-final against Graeme Dott or Steve Davis.

“I’m not going to criticise Ronnie because I don’t know his reasons, his thoughts or if anything is wrong,” Hendry, who has clashed with O’Sullivan before, said.