ISLE of Wight amateur snooker player Luke Simmonds has been knocked out of the Betway UK Championships by arguably the greatest player ever to hold a cue, Ronnie O'Sullivan, this afternoon.

Rocket Ronnie, the defending champion, beat the part-time factory worker 6-1 in the first round of this year's competition, in York.

In front of a near-capacity crowd, Luke, 38, settled his nerves in fine style by taking the first frame with a break of 56.

Luke, a former World Amateur Champion, had a chance to go 2-0 up in the second frame after a bright start, but Ronny took the initiative to level.

The Rocket edged a crucial safety exchange and won a scrappy third frame after Luke broke down on 46.

The tournament favourite, chasing a record seventh UK title, finished the first session with a break of 97, to lead 3-1.

When play resumed, Ronnie struck consecutive tons to edge closer to the 1,000-century mark and stretch his lead to 5-1.

Luke, who has worked in a factory for the past eight years, building carbon-fibre body parts for cars, practises snooker whenever he can to prepare for tournaments.

He opened the seventh frame with a break of 26.

But Ronnie closed out the match with a 77 break to knock out the 128th seeded Islander.