SEVENTH HEAVEN
Ronnie O’Sullivan in tears after winning seventh World Snooker Championship and drawing level with Stephen Hendry
MAGICAL Ronnie O’Sullivan lit up the Crucible with his Magnificent Seven sporting moment.
As if it was destiny, the Rocket shot down Judd Trump’s spirited challenge to win 18-13 in a fascinating Betfred World Snooker Championship final.
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Having burned the pages of the record books this past fortnight in Sheffield, the Essex potter partied like it was 1999 as he finally equalled Stephen Hendry’s tally of seven world titles.
And after arguments with the referee, irritations with the crowd and 15 wonderful tournament centuries, the Essex potter produced one final trick – BURNING his cue with a lighter.
Frame 25 saw O’Sullivan stun fans by SCORCHING his tip to fray off any stray fibres, a practice usually done behind-the-scenes.
It was the first time a naked flame had been seen in this wonderful arena since the chain-smoking days of Jimmy White and Alex Higgins 30 years ago.
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But then O’Sullivan was never going to be crowned world champion last night without some form of madcap incident.
It is always Box Office whenever the unpredictable 46-year-old is in town and he continues to set the standard and break records well into his fifth decade.
This latest triumph means O’Sullivan has become the sport’s oldest champion, eclipsing former coach Ray Reardon who was 45 when he was victorious in 1978 for the last time.
In the Greatest Of All Time snooker stakes, many passionate, one-eyed Scots might still root for Hendry, who dominated the baize in the 1990s.
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But it’s fair to say O’Sullivan has strengthened his claim, if not ended the discussion, about who is the most successful person ever to wield a snooker cue.
Nobody in history has was won more matches (74) at the Crucible or hit more centuries (199) in this wonderful old theatre.
Monday’s two sessions did not involve any of the drama or aggression that overshadowed Sunday as O’Sullivan clashed with officialdom.
Belgian referee Olivier Marteel claimed the player had made an alleged ‘gesture’ in the eighth frame – something that was not seen on TV and was strenuously denied.
Despite O’Sullivan’s provocative dressing-room Eurosport interview – in which he accused Marteel of “looking for trouble” – SunSport understands the matter is closed and there will be no disciplinary action.
Having fallen 12-5 behind overnight, there was a real danger this ‘Dream Final’ was going to turn into a nightmare for Trump.
If O’Sullivan had won six frames in the eight-frame afternoon session, then for the fourth time, and first since 1993, there would have been no live evening play.
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On day one of this final, Trump, 32, had been flat and missed straightforward shots but then he pulled himself back with an assured performance and superb long-potting on day two.
Having woken up as the 16-1 outsider, the Juddernaut became the Juggernaut, starting the third session with a composed 107 and ending it with a morale-boosting 105.
In a measure of respectability, the Bristol ace had reduced the deficit from seven frames to three and ensured it would not be an onslaught.
At 14-11 up, O’Sullivan was still the title favourite but at least punters arrived at 7pm expecting a more competitive contest.
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After being left locked out of his dressing room, O’Sullivan quietened the Trump fightback with breaks of 82, 88 and 75.
Though Trump knocked out a 109 – the 109th century break of the tournament – O’Sullivan sealed the deal in the 31st frame with a sublime 85 and then embarrassingly hugged Trump in a long embrace.
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