thommo
5th May, 2008, 11:10 PM
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44628000/jpg/_44628623_ronnietrophybody.jpg
Ronnie O'Sullivan has claimed his third World Championship crown after completing a comprehensive 18-8 win over Ali Carter in the final.
Resuming the final session 16-8 in front, O'Sullivan wasted little time in securing the two frames he needed.
The 32-year-old started the evening's play with a 69 break and after Carter missed a chance to claw a frame back, O'Sullivan's 34 sealed the win.
O'Sullivan was always in control and had led 11-5 after the opening day.
He has joined Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams in winning the UK Championship and the world title in addition to clinching the number one spot in the rankings in the same season.
And the victory is fine reward for O'Sullivan, who has been in scintillating form over the past two weeks.
He fired a superb 147 in his second-round win over Mark Williams and had 12 century breaks, with five in the top 10, during a memorable tournament.
And in his semi-final against seven-time Crucible champion Stephen Hendry, O'Sullivan produced what the Scot called "snooker perfection" as he claimed a stunning 17-6 victory.
In the final, O'Sullivan only showed glimpses of the form that defeated Hendry but was never really tested by a player competing in his first ranking event final.
"I'm just happy to have won, it was tough," said O'Sullivan. "When you get ahead you are always thinking at the back of your mind, if you lose it from here it is going to be a killer.
"Sometimes it is better when it is closer, sometimes when trying to protect a lead it is hard. If you are playing well you can cruise on but I was struggling.
"I did the damage in one session in every match. I wasn't playing fantastic every session, but you don't need to be to win this. Sometimes you just have to do it in spells.
"Ali and I are disappointed not to put on a better performance but when you get to the final sometimes the balls go scrappy and when you have a 1,000 people breathing down your neck it is a tough place to think straight.
"But we love the pressure and excitement at The Crucible."
O'Sullivan, who this week faces a disciplinary hearing after his comments at the recent China Open, also said that he might take a break from the game in order to recharge his batteries.
"Hopefully it is not the last title, hopefully there are a few more to come," he added. "I said I would like to win more, but it is quite well documented that I struggle with the game and with myself.
"Sometimes I think it would be good to go out on a high. I will have a think over the summer and it might be a good time to take a break. Who knows?"
Carter, who was making his first appearance in a ranking final, looked jaded after a gruelling fortnight which saw him edge past Joe Perry in a marathon semi-final.
Against O'Sullivan, he was undone by a failure to make the most of a number of opportunities that came his way as his opponent struggled to hit top gear.
But he will satisfy himself with a runners-up cheque of ?125,000, plus a half share of the ?157,000 awarded for claiming a maximum break during the quarter-final against Peter Ebdon.
"I am pleased to get to the final, it has been a great experience," he said. "I am disappointed not to perform at my best but it is very tiring.
"Ronnie made it very difficult. His safety was brilliant and the better man won on the day.
"The top eight in the world, a maximum and the final of the World Championship - I would have taken that at the start."
O'Sullivan had a six-frame advantage overnight and he went into the final two sessions odds-on favourite to complete the job - no-one has ever recovered from such a heavy overnight deficit in snooker's most prestigious tournament.
He extended his lead with runs of 52, 71 and 69 although Carter made sure the match went into the final session with breaks of 84 and 71.
The start of an evening session was delayed after a streaker entered the auditorium and spread-eagled himself under the match table.
But the interruption did not put O'Sullivan off his stride and a break of 69 in frame 25 left Carter needing snookers, taking him to the verge of victory.
And in the next O'Sullivan sealed the win after being let in when Carter missed a blue into the middle pocket.
http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/identzone/bbc_sport/images/BBC_SPORT_1988.jpg
Ronnie O'Sullivan has claimed his third World Championship crown after completing a comprehensive 18-8 win over Ali Carter in the final.
Resuming the final session 16-8 in front, O'Sullivan wasted little time in securing the two frames he needed.
The 32-year-old started the evening's play with a 69 break and after Carter missed a chance to claw a frame back, O'Sullivan's 34 sealed the win.
O'Sullivan was always in control and had led 11-5 after the opening day.
He has joined Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams in winning the UK Championship and the world title in addition to clinching the number one spot in the rankings in the same season.
And the victory is fine reward for O'Sullivan, who has been in scintillating form over the past two weeks.
He fired a superb 147 in his second-round win over Mark Williams and had 12 century breaks, with five in the top 10, during a memorable tournament.
And in his semi-final against seven-time Crucible champion Stephen Hendry, O'Sullivan produced what the Scot called "snooker perfection" as he claimed a stunning 17-6 victory.
In the final, O'Sullivan only showed glimpses of the form that defeated Hendry but was never really tested by a player competing in his first ranking event final.
"I'm just happy to have won, it was tough," said O'Sullivan. "When you get ahead you are always thinking at the back of your mind, if you lose it from here it is going to be a killer.
"Sometimes it is better when it is closer, sometimes when trying to protect a lead it is hard. If you are playing well you can cruise on but I was struggling.
"I did the damage in one session in every match. I wasn't playing fantastic every session, but you don't need to be to win this. Sometimes you just have to do it in spells.
"Ali and I are disappointed not to put on a better performance but when you get to the final sometimes the balls go scrappy and when you have a 1,000 people breathing down your neck it is a tough place to think straight.
"But we love the pressure and excitement at The Crucible."
O'Sullivan, who this week faces a disciplinary hearing after his comments at the recent China Open, also said that he might take a break from the game in order to recharge his batteries.
"Hopefully it is not the last title, hopefully there are a few more to come," he added. "I said I would like to win more, but it is quite well documented that I struggle with the game and with myself.
"Sometimes I think it would be good to go out on a high. I will have a think over the summer and it might be a good time to take a break. Who knows?"
Carter, who was making his first appearance in a ranking final, looked jaded after a gruelling fortnight which saw him edge past Joe Perry in a marathon semi-final.
Against O'Sullivan, he was undone by a failure to make the most of a number of opportunities that came his way as his opponent struggled to hit top gear.
But he will satisfy himself with a runners-up cheque of ?125,000, plus a half share of the ?157,000 awarded for claiming a maximum break during the quarter-final against Peter Ebdon.
"I am pleased to get to the final, it has been a great experience," he said. "I am disappointed not to perform at my best but it is very tiring.
"Ronnie made it very difficult. His safety was brilliant and the better man won on the day.
"The top eight in the world, a maximum and the final of the World Championship - I would have taken that at the start."
O'Sullivan had a six-frame advantage overnight and he went into the final two sessions odds-on favourite to complete the job - no-one has ever recovered from such a heavy overnight deficit in snooker's most prestigious tournament.
He extended his lead with runs of 52, 71 and 69 although Carter made sure the match went into the final session with breaks of 84 and 71.
The start of an evening session was delayed after a streaker entered the auditorium and spread-eagled himself under the match table.
But the interruption did not put O'Sullivan off his stride and a break of 69 in frame 25 left Carter needing snookers, taking him to the verge of victory.
And in the next O'Sullivan sealed the win after being let in when Carter missed a blue into the middle pocket.
http://www.meldrum.co.uk/mhp/identzone/bbc_sport/images/BBC_SPORT_1988.jpg