AFTER a troubled week with his cue it should have come as no real surprise when Chigwell potter Ronnie O'Sullivan (right) handed it over to a stunned youngster in the Crucible crowd after he crashed out of the World Championships to eventual winner Graeme Dott in the semi-finals.

The former Wanstead High School pupil and two-times champion was far from happy with his sub-standard performance during the 17-11 defeat to Dott.

He said: "I missed too many balls, didn't make enough breaks, my safety was poor and my long-ball potting was awful.

"But that's not taking anything from Graeme he beat me comfortably."

The 30-year-old Essex star then went on to explain the problems he had with tips, which could have landed him in hot water after he pulled one off his cue during the 14th frame of his semi-final, although he was later given the benefit of the doubt.

He said: "I've murdered the tips recently. I had about seven in the week coming into the tournament and about eight on this week I just couldn't find the right one.

"In the end I gave the cue to the young lad because I'll be playing with a new one next season."