The seven-time world champion has been using a new ferrule, which is the sleeve used to reinforce the tip of a cue, during the tournament. O'Sullivan has opted for one made of titanium ...

The seven-time champion put a new tip on his cue before the semi-final began and after the first session finished 4-4 he changed his ferrule. O’Sullivan had been playing with a new titanium ...

"Immediately afterwards, we are hearing, he actually went to a shop in Sheffield and changed not only the tip but the ferrule of his cue. "A rather extraordinary thing to do in the middle of a ...

The drastic modification, which saw him have both the tip and ferrule on his cue changed, came with his World Championship semi-final against Zhao Xintong locked at 4-4 after the first session.

"I don't even know if it was the cue, the ferrule or me. There were three things," he said. "I didn't know where the white ball was going. I was at a loss. "I won't throw the cue. The merchandise ...

Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan had the tip and ferrule on his cue changed overnight with the match evenly poised at 4-4 but things went downhill quickly when they resumed on Friday.