O’Sullivan establishes big lead in feisty final

Venue: Crucible Theatre, Sheffield Dates: 1-2 May
Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the BBC Sport app

Six-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan established a commanding 12-5 lead over Judd Trump on a feisty first day of the World Championship final.

Once play resumed, O’Sullivan’s 5-3 lead was cut by Trump’s break of 73.

But O’Sullivan made six half centuries and a sublime 118 as he took a firm grip of the match.

His mastery of the cue ball was in complete contrast to the error-strewn Trump, who like John Higgins in the semi-final failed to apply any pressure on his 46-year-old opponent who moves within six frames of a record-equalling seventh title in the modern era.

Trump, who took the Crucible crown in 2019 started the evening in positive fashion to move within one frame at 5-4 but then lost a protracted frame containing a re-rack. A half-hearted safety attempt left the 38-time ranking event winner among the reds, with O’Sullivan immediately restoring his two-frame cushion with breaks of 66 and 50.

That theme continued in the following frames, with Trump missing a difficult black along the bottom cushion and then rattling the jaws of the left-hand corner pocket with another black off its spot after brilliantly playing a reverse plant.

He was punished in emphatic fashion as O’Sullivan compiled his 15th century of the tournament and then a break of 97 to go 8-4 ahead.

Trump had an excellent chance to make a sizable contribution in the 13th frame but saw a pink arc around the left middle. He put his hands in his head as he returned to his seat with O’Sullivan again picking off the loose balls to surge further clear.

And when O’Sullivan capitalised on another error to clear the table with a run of 87 to go 10-4 up, Trump was staring at the biggest second-session deficit since Steve Davis led John Parrott 13-3 in the 1989 decider.

Trump averted any possibility of that with a gritty break of 80 to seal his first frame in six but O’Sullivan dominated the final two frames to propel himself closer to Stephen Hendry’s seven triumphs.

Angry argument overshadows first session

Instead of being able to focus fully on an enthralling clash between snooker’s different generations the first session was overshadowed by a series of prickly exchanges between O’Sullivan and Marteel.

The Belgian, who is taking charge of his second world final, rebuked O’Sullivan for making what he believed to be an obscene gesture, prompting the player to challenge the official to check the camera.

Trump went on to win the frame but also appeared irritated by the timing of an incident that came with it delicately poised.

“I get a vibe with the guy,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport.

“He just seems to be looking for trouble. They have got hundreds of cameras out there. I am not having any of it because I think he is trying to create something.”

O’Sullivan had earlier complained about a security guard moving in his line of sight during the third frame, and he was also involved in a lengthy debate with the referee over the placing of the white following a miss in the fourth frame, at one point suggesting Marteel should play the shot himself.

The 46-year-old is already facing an investigation by the WPBSA disciplinary committee for allegedly making a lewd gesture after missing a black in the 13th frame of his 10-5 first-round win over Dave Gilbert.

However, by the evening any animosity seemed to have disappeared with O’Sullivan fist bumping the official as he came out and former champion John Parrott suggesting that the incident “will all be under the carpet.”

O’Sullivan gains the early advantage

Like in the evening session, Trump won the opening frame with a composed break of 72 but was then rocked as O’Sullivan took over with two superb centuries and a break of 68 to reel off the next five frames.

Trump, who saw his table time limited, responded with a 97 and held his nerve to reduce his arrears in a tense conclusion to the session.

O’Sullivan’s failure to get position on the yellow and subsequent foul gave Trump, who had failed to convert chances of his own and was guilty of some poor shot selection when given a free ball, a reprieve and he appeared delighted as he left the arena.

At that stage Trump’s ability to limit the damage felt important particularly after appearing rattled by gifting O’Sullivan the fourth frame of the afternoon, missing a red, yellow and green before conceding a free ball and losing on a re-spotted black.

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