World Snooker Awards 2013 – “Performance of the year” for Ronnie
Tonight was “World Snooker Awards” night at the Dorchester in London, an event now well installed in the calendar and time for the best snooker performers to get recognition for their achievements.
Here they are:
Golden cue: Neil Robertson (highest break of 143 at the World Championship)
Journalists player of the year: Mark Selby
Rookie of the year: Ian Burns
Fans player of the year: Mark Selby
Magic moment of the year: Jimmy Robertson for his 57 total clearance at the shootout ( You can watch it here )
Performance of the year: Ronnie for winning his 5th World title after almost a year out
World Snooker player of the year: Mark Selby
147 Club: (players making a 147 during the season): Stuart Bingham, Ken Doherty, John Higgins, Tom Ford, Andy Hicks, Jack Lisowski, Kurt Maflin, Ding Junhui.
Entering the Hall of Fame: Terry Griffiths, Joe Johnson, Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Graeme Dott, Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson
Ronnie gets his award – picture posted on twitter by David Hendon
World Championship 2013 – Ronnie makes it five!
Our Champion!
Ronnie won his fifth World Title tonight and is the first to defend it since Stephen Hendry in 1996. Some achievement after taking nearly the full season out! Fabulous Ronnie, well done!
Match report – Barry Hawkins 12-18 Ronnie O’Sullivan
The first session was pretty much one chance snooker, with both players scoring heavily and very reliable in the balls. Ronnie opened a 2-0 lead with 74 and 92, Barry then won three on the trot with 98, 81 and 50. For the first time in the tournament Ronnie was behind in a match. But he responded in style, taking the last three with 75, 113 and 100. His long game wasn’t up to scratch though. Ronnie won the second session despite struggling badly for the best part of it and looking on the verge of surrendering to frustration at times. But he didn’t and having been pegged back to 7-7 by a brilliant Barry (he made 83 and 133 from 5-7 down) he showed what he’s made of, taking all last three, with two tons, 103 and 106, and on the last black in the last frame of the session after some sublime safety. Ronnie won the third session with two more tons, 124 and 133. His break building was sublime at times. The 55 he made to steal frame 20 was phenomenal. In the fourth session Barry came out fighting and won the first two of the session. But that’s a far as it went: Ronnie took the next three to seal victory, his fifth World title. Ronnie has now made 131 centuries at the Crucible, breaking Hendry’s record of 127. He’s also the first player to make 6 centuries in a World final.
World Championship 2013 – SF – Ronnie 17-11 Judd Trump
Match report: Judd Trump 11-17 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie got to the better start and went to lead 4-1, scoring well when in the balls; he knocked in breaks of 65, 75 and 89 in the process. However Judd showed great patience and proved to be the strongest in the safety department which allowed him to come back all square. He was particularly impressive in stealing frame 7 from 0-56 down. The second session was a tense but overall high quality one. They were locked at 6-6 at MSI with Judd getting first in in most frames but Ronnie capitalizing better on his opponent mistakes. When they resumed, Ronnie built a 3 frames advantage but Judd crucially took the last after a long safety battle and a rare miss from Ronnie on the last green to stay in touch. Ronnie once again was the heavier scorer with 90, 93 and 60. Ronnie won the third session 5-3. It was a rather edgy session overall. The highlights of it were Judd’s 117 – the only century of the match at this stage – and Ronnie well constructed 89 to win the last frame of the session. Frame 23, won by Judd, was particularly scrappy with Ronnie showing clear signs of frustration, but he quickly refocused. The last session was short as Ronnie managed to get the three frames he needed before the MSI despite the fact that Judd was the only one to score a sizeable break, 77 in frame 27.
Ronnie’s press conference after the match
Youtube video: Ronnie talks to Worldsnooker after his semi finals win
World Championship 2013 – QF – Ronnie 13-4 Stuart Bingham
Match report
During the first session, Ronnie was simply sublime for 7 frames in a row, scoring 79, 54, 111, 60, 87, 133 and 78 with a pot success as high as 98%. All credit to Stuart, after such onslaught he managed to rescue the last frame, taking advantage of Ronnie’s poor break-off and rare mistakes, most probably caused by a slight dip in concentration on Ronnie’s side… Ronnie won all five first frames in the session to lead 12-1 resuming with a 104 after the MSI. Actually neither him or Stuart had been at their best and were making mistakes. On the brink on defeat Stuart seemed to relax and took the next two with 60 and 70, capitalizing on Ronnie’s mistakes. Ronnie should have won the last frame of the session but missed a black off the spot trying to free one of the two remaining reds that was tied with the pink. That black was actually match ball. Stuart duly took advantage. Ronnie will be annoyed with himself, not just because of the miss but also because he let impatience get the better of him towards the end and it showed in his shot selection. But he needed just 10 minutes to wrap up the match in the third session despite needing 3 chances…
World Championship 2013 – R2 – Ronnie 13-8 Ali Carter
Match report
During the first session Ronnie was impressive in the balls but rustiness showed when it came to safeties and long potting. But he showed a good attitude, playing on for 3 or 4 snookers in two of the frames he lost. The highlight of the session was Ronnie’s excellent 125. It was Ali who won the last two frames of the session though giving Ronnie some food for thoughts. In the second session, Ali came out fighting and his potting was scary at times. Ronnie made some good breaks (86, 105, 61, 73 and 86), his safety was decent but his long game let him down big time and his frustration was apparent when he missed frame ball at 61 in frame 13 and allowed Ali to steal it. He was pegged back at 7-7 but crucially won the last two frames of the session, regaining his 2 frames cushion lead. He turned the style on in the third session which he won 4-1 with breaks of 88, 106 and 89 in the last three frames of the match.
World Championship 2013 – R1 – Ronnie 10-4 Marcus Campbell
Picture by Andy Chubb
Ronnie wasn’t at his best but he managed a rather comfortable win in the end. During the first session he took a 7-2 lead, winning several frames from way behind. He won the first two of the second session, with a century to make it better, but then had to face a mini comeback from Marcus that brought the match to the MSI. But after the MSI, Ronnie managed to clinch it, on the final colors.
Overall Ronnie was deadly as ever in the balls but was rusty in the safety and long game departments. Nevertheless Ronnie made 82, 62, 71, 85, 86, 58, 102, 90 en route to victory! Not bad.
Ronnie is taking one match at a time and he plays again next Saturday.
Youtube video: Ronnie’s interview with WSA after his R1 win
And here is Ronnie’s press conference
Ronnie will defend his World Title come April 2013
Ronnie, speaking at a press conference in London today (26.02.2013), confirmed that he will defend his World title at the Crucible theatre come April. He is aware that this will be a massive challenge but is looking forward to be back to playing competitive snooker again.
Happy Birthday Ronnie!
Ronnie turns 37 today.
Happy Birthday Ronnie! Here is wishing you happiness with your family and your loved ones, peace of mind and enjoyment in life whatever you choose to do in the future .
Ronnie pulls out of the 2012/13 season
World Snooker Statement – Ronnie O’Sullivan
World Snooker Statement – Ronnie O’Sullivan
06th November 2012World Snooker has been informed that Ronnie O’Sullivan does not intend to compete on the World Snooker Tour for the remainder of the 2012/13 season.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “I have spoken to Ronnie and he has decided to withdraw from any events he has entered, and he will not be playing for the rest of this season. He has some personal issues which he needs to resolve and we wish him all the best for the future.”
