World Snooker Championship 2022 final LIVE RESULT: O’Sullivan 18-13 Trump – Rocket seals record triumph
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has won a record-equalling SEVENTH World Snooker Championship by beating Judd Trump at the Crucible.
The Rocket, 46 triumphed 18-13 to go level with Stephen Hendry with the most victories of the prestigious tournament in the modern era.
Trump put on a gallant battle, after fighting back from 12-5 overnight here in Sheffield.
One more frame to go this afternoon.
It will either be 6-2 to O'Sullivan.
Or Trump will do himself a massive favour and make it 5-3 instead.
O'Sullivan 5-2 Trump
Finally, O'Sullivan has to remain in his chair and watch someone else play snooker.
Trump stops the rot and gives himself a morale-boosting 97 in frame seven.
What could have been potentially 7-1 as a scoreline has now been averted.
One frame to go before a break until the 7pm evening session.
O'Sullivan 5-1 Trump
This match is getting quicker and quicker now.
O'Sullivan is going through the gears and cleaning up at a steady pace. He is not hanging round now.
No wonder they call him the Rocket!
A break of 105 represents his 14th century of the 2022 tournament and second in this one-sided final.
Hendry damning on Trump chances
The Scot, 53, said: "Judd is in danger in this session.
"It looks like he will lose this. It is damage limitation now.
"By how much can Judd save it? 5-3 rather than 6-2? 6-2 rather than 7-1?"
O'Sullivan 4-1 Trump
Stephen Hendry said that the outcome of this first session could be pivotal in the context of the entire match.
How right he might be come tomorrow evening.
Trump has not yet properly settled and O'Sullivan is in control here as he wins the frame 62-13.
Play is expected to resume in the next five minutes.
It is a mid-session interval.
Ronnie O'Sullivan leads 3-1 and had bagged one century - a 120 - in the opening four frames.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Trump - mid-session interval
Frame four will be noted for O'Sullivan's disagreements with the ref over the positioning of the cue ball.
And also the re-spotted black which O'Sullivan forced after 33 minutes of battling.
Trump looked set to win this frame but missed a red and then had a chance on the yellow but his shot rattled the jaw of the bottom pocket.
O'Sullivan needed a snooker at 34-62 down and when Trump fouled on the green and handed his opponent a free ball, it proved to be a pivotal moment.
And in true exhibition style, O'Sullivan nails the final black with a magnificent cross-double.
Typical Ronnie, always producing drama.
In frame four, the last one before the mid-session interval, O'Sullivan had a long disagreement with the referee about the exact positioning of the cue ball after he had fouled.
He even encouraged Judd Trump to come up out of his chair and inspect the line. The ref replied: "Well, it's your shot!"
There is much laughter as he debates for ages with the official about where it should be. We are talking fractions here.
Eventually after a long time arguing his case, he hits the red ball.
The fact he is wearing a mic for his documentary TV crew is perhaps just a coincidence...
It is going Ronnie O'Sullivan's way so far in the opening exchanges.
Judd Trump sank just one red in frames two and three and had to watch as the Rocket knocked in 198 points.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Trump
In frame three, O'Sullivan is upset with a fan in his eyesight who is moving at the top of the stands.
The Rocket's breaks down on 68 with 67 left on the table, meaning that Trump needs at least one snooker to steal the lead.
But after a few minutes of attempted safety play, O'Sullivan gets over the line and takes the lead for the first time.
A funny exchange there between two legends of snooker.
The pair, who share 13 world titles, were discussing on TV the prospects of Ronnie O'Sullivan going past Stephen Hendry's record of 16 centuries set in 2002.
Stephen Hendry: "Are you saying another record of mine is going?"
Steve Davis: "Have you got any left?"
Hendry: "Well he can't become the youngest world champion"
Davis: "But he is playing like Benjamin Button."
Credit: PA
O'Sullivan 1-1 Trump
Ever the entertainer, O'Sullivan gives the crowd something to cheer in the second frame and lays down a marker with a break of 120.
It is his 13th century in five matches and Hendry's tally of 16 in a single championship, which has stood since 2002, is under threat here.
Fair to say that this won't be the last century of this encounter.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump meet ahead of the 2022 Betfred World Snooker Championship finalCredit: PA
