Ding Junhui and Ronnie O’Sullivan set to clash in final of 2011 Premier League Snooker Grand Final
After comfortable victories in their respective semi-final clashes against Judd Trump and Mark Williams, China’s Ding Junhui and England’s Ronnie O’Sullivan have surged into the final match-up of 2011 Premier League Snooker Grand Final at Potters Leisure
Resort, in Hopton-on-Sea, England. Junhui defeated Trump by 5-3 while O’Sullivan claimed his win by a 5-2 triumph against Williams.
The opening frame of first semi-final match between Junhui and Trump was dominated by the Chinese, who compiled a couple of small breaks to built final 89-point score and win the frame and grab an early 1-0 lead in the match. Trump capitalised in the very
next frame with 28-53, to pull level at 1-1.
Before Junhui could settle in the game, trump fired a stunning half-century knock of 58 points and took the second frame 15-74, to snatch the overall lead by the score line of 1-2. The Chinese Sensation sprang back in style and replied Trump with a superb
59-point knock to take fourth frame with 68-17 and equalise the competition at 2-2.
After that, the match turned into a Junhui show, as he took back-to-back frames to reach the 4-2 mark. Trump bounced back in the seventh frame to move one frame up in the scores with 4-3, but that could not help him win the semi-final at Hopton-on-Sea. Junhui
finished the game with a superb clearance of 75 and cruised into the final.
On the other hand, O’Sullivan had a comparatively easy competition against Welshman, Mark Williams. After a 0-66 loss to Williams in Frame 1, the Englishman was under pressure but he managed to comeback with two consecutive frame wins. Williams pulled level
at 2-2 but after that he could not claim another frame while O’Sullivan clinched the match by 5-2, smashing some outstanding clearances of 55, 84 and 88, respectively.
The Rocket spoke after his victory and said, “It’s always tough because I have the utmost respect for Mark – he is a top player and you’re never safe. I didn’t settle quickly and it took me a bit to get my confidence, but in the end I played well.”
O’Sullivan, who has won the premier league nine times before, will take on Junhui in final at the same arena. Rocket must be looking forward to add another premier league victory to his account while Junhui must be prepared to take on O’Sullivan to claim
his first league win.
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