Ronnie O’Sullivan, after eighth UK Championship title win: “He’s [Ding] played fantastic all week, I’ve been watching all his games and his cue ball control is the best ever – he’s never out of position, it’s like watching a computer. The crowd have been fantastic. I love playing here.”
Final Up to date: 03/12/23 10:42pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan clinched a record-extending eighth UK Championship title on Sunday, 30 years after his first
Ronnie O’Sullivan clinched a record-extending eighth UK Championship title, beating Ding Junhui 10-7 within the last on Sunday.
The victory comes 30 years since O’Sullivan first claimed the title, when he beat Stephen Hendry 10-6 in 1993. He had most lately lifted the trophy in 2018 earlier than this yr.
The 47-year-old provides the 2023 title to earlier wins in 1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Ding suffered a second successive last defeat, having fallen 10-7 to Mark Allen final yr. He stays a three-time UK Championship winner (2005, 2009, 2019).
O’Sullivan defeated China’s Ding Junhui to elevate the trophy
O’Sullivan instructed BBC Sport: “He’s played fantastic all week, I’ve been watching all his games and his cue ball control is the best ever – he’s never out of position, it’s like watching a computer.
“It is a pleasure to play Ding, he is such a very good man – he was a boy after I first began taking part in him however he is a person now, a father, a credit score to China, I name him the Godfather of Chinese language snooker, he paved the best way for everyone else to imagine they might come right here and do it.
O’Sullivan’s victory comes on the age of 47, with him now having lifted the trophy in 4 many years
“He’s a massive inspiration to all snooker players – I’m a massive fan of his and it’s an honour to play him in the final. I know there are probably millions and millions of people watching in China so for me it is a fantastic experience and the crowd here have been fantastic all week, I love playing here.”
“It’s been a very good week for me,” Ding Junhui mentioned. “I knew it was going to be tough tonight.
“I like that I’ve performed like this throughout this week, it’s extremely cool. I actually thank the followers for his or her help each recreation, I adore it right here.”
Hauled back from 4-1 and 7-5 leads by Ding, who like O’Sullivan won his first UK title as a teenager in 2005, the world number one dug deep when it mattered and consecutive breaks of 100 and 74 set him up for his final flourish.
It was an admirable effort from the Chinese player, who had clambered off his sick bed to sink defending champion Allen on the opening day having seriously considered withdrawing from the tournament.
But ultimately O’Sullivan, who had seldom been required to find his best form during his journey through the tournament, had just enough to leave Ding contemplating a second consecutive final defeat.
Ding had clawed back to level at 4-4 at the end of an absorbing opening session, after a series of costly errors gifted O’Sullivan the early advantage.
Three times the 36-year-old blew early frame-winning opportunities to fall 3-0 then 4-1 behind before belatedly stirring to reel off three frames in a row including breaks of 114 and 70.
Ding suffered defeat within the UK Championship for the second yr in a row, having misplaced 10-7 to Mark Allen in 2022
O’Sullivan wasted no time in re-establishing his lead within the first body of the night with a break of 84, however there was a touch of impatience within the subsequent when he opted to not play on regardless of trailing by 51 and solely requiring one snooker.
Ding appeared intent on urgent dwelling his benefit however was punished for taking over some dangerous lengthy pictures within the subsequent two frames, O’Sullivan edging forward once more with breaks of 40 and 87, then rising from a scrappy spell within the subsequent to achieve the interval 7-5 in entrance.
A tough-earned 58 from Ding introduced him again inside one body earlier than an impressive 104, his second century of the ultimate, pulled him degree once more.
Something Ding may do, O’Sullivan may do too, and the momentum swung again within the path of the world champion within the subsequent body when he responded with a century of his personal, a 100, his first of the ultimate.
A superb pink from O’Sullivan set him as much as transfer one body from victory with a break of 74, and he accomplished his win in his personal irresistible style along with his second three-figure end.
