Snooker: Ronnie rockets into comfortable lead
Joe Swail’s worst fears were realised as Ronnie O’Sullivan stormed into a 6-2 lead after the first session of their Embassy World Championship semi-final at the Crucible.
Swail had admitted that he could not afford a repeat of his first session blues in the quarter-final against Patrick Wallace - when he trailed by the same score-line - against a player of O’Sullivan’s quality.
But the world number 16 failed to fire on all cylinders, particularly with his safety play, and O’Sullivan reeled off the last five frames of the session on the trot to establish early dominance.
Already it is looking like a mountain to climb for Swail who had also fought back in spectacular style to defeat reigning world champion Mark Williams earlier in the tournament.
The fourth-ranked O’Sullivan was not at his spectacular best but he still reeled off four 50 plus breaks, including a highest of 73 in the second frame.
O’Sullivan began the match priced 6-1 on with the bookmakers to reach his first world final, with Swail rated 7-2 to improve on his semi-final appearance 12 months ago when he was beaten by Matthew Stevens.
The early signs were encouraging for the Irishman who more than held his own in the pre-interval session and twice led the Essex Exocet in a four frame shoot-out lasting only 48 minutes.
Swail, who currently leads the race for the highest break prize with 140 against Williams, made the best possible start in the best of 33 frame clash with a 107 clearance.
O’Sullivan trailed 6-16 in the second but a red down the rail into the left black pocket put him on the way to a decisive 73 break.
The third frame see-sawed, with Swail first in the balls with 32, before missing an attempted double into the centre pocket.
O’Sullivan moved into a 57-43 advantage but a 24 clearance to the pink saw Swail pinch the frame to regain his advantage.
The final frame before the interval went decisively in favour of O’Sullivan, with a 62 break bringing him back to all square at the interval.
Then, after the interval, he seized command to put himself in the driving seat for Friday morning’s second session.
A poor safety shot by Swail let in O’Sullivan for a decisive 58 break and then runs of 70 and 37 in the sixth enabled him to open up a 4-2 lead.
Swail looked well set to half the deficit in the next but he broke down on 38 when missing an easy red into the green pocket.
O’Sullivan replied with 41 and, when Swail left the final red over a middle pocket, he cleared to the pink to win his fourth frame on the trot.
It was vital for Swail that he won the final frame to keep in touching distance, but that scenario never looked like happening to leave him with an uphill battle.
