Ronnie O'Sullivan was beaten at the Betway UK Championship for the first time since 2016 as he lost 6-4 in a high quality match against Ding Junhui in the last 16.

O'Sullivan has lifted the trophy seven times and was aiming for a third successive crown, but was second best against an inspired Ding in York. The result means that the top four players in the world – O'Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson – have been knocked out before the quarter-finals.

Ding, who won this title in 2005 and 2009, goes through to the last eight to face Liang Wenbo in a Chinese derby. World number 16 Ding has had a disappointing run of form having not win a ranking title for over two years, but on today's evidence looks to have regained his scoring prowess.

Breaks of 82, 51 and 110 put Ding 3-0 ahead before O'Sullivan pulled one back with a run of 78. Ding won the fifth but didn't pot a ball in the next three frames as O'Sullivan fired 77, 107 and 124 to level at 4-4.

In frame nine, Ding led 60-0 when he missed a red to a top corner, but O'Sullivan's reply ended at 16 when he missed a red himself, allowing his opponent to regain the lead. Ding made 45 in the tenth before missing a red to centre, but he soon got back in and added 37 for victory.

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