With ease, Ronnie O’Sullivan defeats Ding Junhui 6-1 to secure a position in the World Grand Prix final; Masters champion and pundit Alan McManus: “I don’t believe what I’ve witnessed. It was astounding. To be honest, it doesn’t get any better than that, so it was one of those “I was there” nights.
With a commanding 6-1 victory over China’s Ding Junhui, Ronnie O’Sullivan secured his spot in Sunday’s World Grand Prix final with a “mind-boggling” masterclass.
Even by O’Sullivan’s standards, he put on a spectacular show at Leicester’s Morningside Arena a week after securing a record-breaking Masters victory that featured four consecutive century breaks.
The match lasted just over seventy minutes when he sunk the final black to arrange a meeting with three-time winner Judd Trump.
O’Sullivan got off to a fantastic start, scoring two hundreds in the first three frames to take a 2-1 lead. His potting was almost flawless.
He started with a break of 135 and O’Sullivan followed with a 128 after Ding tied the score at 1-1 with an 85.
It took him just under 45 minutes to complete all four frames prior to the intermission, with a break of 88 in the fourth round giving him a 3-1 lead.
Ding was under pressure, but he stumbled while on 28 after being handed a chance at the beginning of the fifth session. Ding defeated compatriot Zhang Anda 5-1 to secure his semi-final spot.
Before the break, he finished all four frames in just under forty-five minutes. He led three to one after breaking for eighty-eight points in the fourth round.
Despite being given a chance at the start of the fifth session, Ding faltered while on 28. He was under pressure. Ding earned his spot in the semi-finals by defeating fellow countryman Zhang Anda 5-1.
Ken Doherty, a former world champion and match commentator, told ITV4 that it was the best snooker session he had ever seen.
“He’s such an artist, such a genius,” Doherty exclaimed. It is poetic, artistic, and balletic. Without a doubt, it’s like snooker from the gods.”
“I’ve seen it and I don’t believe it,” co-commentator and former Masters champion Alan McManus continued.
It was astounding. It truly was one of those “I was there” kinds of nights because, quite honestly, it doesn’t get any better than that.
“From the very start to the very end it was perfection.”
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