‘The Rocket’ blasts his way into final

Four-time world snooker champion O’Sullivan sinks Trump 17-11.

SHEFFIELD:

Ronnie O’Sullivan booked his place at the World Snooker Championship final for the fifth time as the defending champion cruised to a 17-11 victory over Judd Trump in the last-four encounter yesterday.

The four-time champion held a 14-10 overnight lead and never looked likely to surrender that advantage as he clinched the three frames needed to progress.

After spending almost a year away from the game due to a self-imposed exile, reaching another Crucible final must rank among O’Sullivan’s finest achievements.

But the English star has already claimed this will be his last appearance at the World Championship due to a lack of passion for the game and that would be a relief to his rivals, who have once again failed to step up to his level.

Trump was 50-39 ahead in the opening frame of the session but missed a red to a corner pocket and O’Sullivan rifled in a 41 break.

O’Sullivan pinched the next after winning a tactical battle and finishing off with a crowd-pleasing 33.

Trump crashed in a 77 break to give himself hope, but the reprieve was all too brief as O’Sullivan creamed off breaks of 31 and 33 in the next frame to clinch his place in the final. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th, 2013.