Snooker: O'Sullivan crashes out

Ronnie O'Sullivan has crashed out of the Regal Welsh Open at Cardiff.

The provisional world number two suffered a shock 5-4 defeat at the hands of Joe Swail.

The Northern Ireland international had lost his opening match in the first four world ranking events of the season.

But he enjoyed a complete upturn in fortunes to defeat O'Sullivan, winner of the Champions Cup, Regal Scottish Masters and China Open during a superb first half of the campaign.

O'Sullivan, who pulled out of England's closing two matches at last week's Nations Cup with a back injury, failed to consolidate on a 2-0 lead as Swail - feeling "terrible" after eating a "bad burger" last night - battled back.

O'Sullivan dismissed suggestions that his back had been a handicap and instead admitted that he had fallen victim to pressure.

"The back wasn't a problem for me at all," insisted provisional world number two O'Sullivan.

"The decider was quite a scrappy frame with a lot of pressure and that's what caused me to miss those balls. Nothing else.

"I'm disappointed I got beat but at least I can drive home. Nobody likes losing, and I'm numb, but it's history and there's nothing I can do about it."