Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Mark Williams 5-2 in semi-final – 2011 Premier League Snooker
The Rocket, Ronnie O’Sullivan, who has won World Championship on three occasions, has cruised into the final of this year’s Premier League Snooker, as he beat former two-time World Champion, Mark Williams, by a frame score of 5-2 in their best-of-nine frames
semi-final match on Sunday.
This event was held at the Potters Leisure resort in Hopton-on-Sea in England.
It was a classy performance from the world number 11, O’Sullivan, as he held his nerves to secure an impressive 5-2 win over his opponent. The overall score-line between both players was 0-66 (Williams 43), 70-33 (Williams 32, O’Sullivan 46), 109-3 (O’Sullivan
109), 34-59 (Williams 35), 96-0 (O’Sullivan 55 & 36), 85-0 (O’Sullivan 84) and 92-9 (O’Sullivan 88).
Williams, who currently holds the second spot in the world rankings, won the opening frame with a modest break of 43 before O’Sullivan levelled the score-line at 1-1 in the following second with a prominent break of 46.
The third frame was over within a blink of an eye because this time O’Sullivan fired in a magnificent match-highest break of 109 to go in front at 2-1.
The fourth frame was a scrappy affair. A bout of safety play was seen among the players but this time it was the Welshman who appeared on top to level the things at 2-2.
Both players were going neck-to-neck and it looked as if the match will go all the way before O’Sullivan surprised everyone by clinching three frames in a row. Williams did get a few chances but he failed to perform and was punished by the Englishman. In
the meantime, O’Sullivan showcased carving breaks of 55, 84 and 88 in the fifth, sixth and seventh frames respectively.
The 35-year-old O’Sullivan was delighted with his win and he shared his thoughts with the media.
“Mark won the first easy and had a good chance to win the second but really, he let me off the hook,” said O’Sullivan. “It was always a tough match and I have the utmost respect for Mark. No match is ever safe and you just have to do the best you can.”
“I felt a bit flustered at the beginning and never settled but overall I’m pleased with the performance and looking forward to tomorrow,” he added.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will now face Enter the Dragon, Ding Junhui, in the final. It is certainly a match not to be missed because Junhui has also shrugged off the rising star, Judd Trump.
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