Another Premier League final, another crushing win for Ronnie O’Sullivan as he defeated Mark Selby 7-2 tonight. Click below to read all about it…
Mark Selby 2-7 Ronnie O’Sullivan
It was business as usual tonight for Ronnie O’Sullivan as he made it five titles from five in the Premier League since the 25 second shot clock was introduced in 2005 with a crushing 7-2 victory against Mark Selby tonight.
Right from the off he looked in good shape as although he left a red hanging in the jaws of a pocket, Selby could not take full advantage and allowed the rocket back in for a break of 93. The second started with a couple of misses from each player but it was Mark’s that proved to be the most costly and a 62 from O’Sullivan made it 2-0.
It just carried on in frame three as although O’Sullivan broke down on his first attempt, Selby could never really get himself into good position and his luck was summed up by a horrible kick which left everything on for his opponent. Three frames became four in the next when an attempted double from Selby which he thought was a shot to nothing, actually left O’Sullivan a tough shot to the middle that he not only managed to get, but made 84 from!
Frame five will have hurt Mark the most though as he actually had a decent chance to take it but a missed red to the green pocket proved costly and he left O’Sullivan in to clear with 62 for 5-0.
The sixth proved to be by far the most tactical of the match and by far the longest, lasting for nearly forty minutes. With just the colours left it looked like it would be O’Sullivan who would take it but bizarrely when playing the final yellow, rather than play position on the green near the cushion, he played around back onto the yellow spot and nearly snookered himself! He couldn’t believe what he had just done and probably as a result of his frustration, let Selby back in to take his first frame of the evening.
It was business as usual again in frame seven as O’Sullivan made the first century of the evening to move just one away from the match, though Mark was not about to give in and a break of 84 kept him in it at 6-2. The end was near though and it came in the next frame as O’Sullivan finished off the tournament with a 74 break to take the title for the fifth time in a row, a tremendous achievement given the calibre of opposition in the event.
While he will be happy to celebrate his 33rd birthday (which came last week), with a title, it is the UK Championships next week that really matters and he will be hoping to get the defence of that trophy off to a good start against either Dave Harold or Rory McLeod.
Mark Selby though will be disappointed that he didn’t really get going tonight, particularly after the magnificent form he showed last night to defeat Stephen Hendry with three centuries. Perhaps he just peaked too soon, though O’Sullivan was clinical tonight when in the balls it has to be said.
Could it be six from six next season? You wouldn’t bet against it…