O'Sullivan's a Wembley winner
Ronnie O’Sullivan beat defending champion Mark Selby to win The Masters title at Wembley Arena last night.
The 33-year-old world champion held his nerve to win an exciting final showdown 10-8 and land the title for a fourth time.
The contest swung one way and then the other, before reaching its conclusion shortly before a quarter past midnight.
O'Sullivan looked in excellent form in the early stages, winning the first frame after a break of 68 and taking the second as well without Selby potting a ball.
Selby got on the scoreboard with a break of 82 but was unlucky to leave himself snookered after potting a long red early in the fourth frame.
On his second attempt to hit a baulk colour he knocked a red over the middle pocket and O’Sullivan took full advantage with a break of 101 to lead 3-1.
It looked like becoming 4-1 only for O’Sullivan to miss a tricky brown with the rest, Selby stepping in to cleverly pot it cushion first and clear up.
A break of 76 made it 3-3 and Selby, admittedly enjoying the run of the balls, went ahead for the first time in the match by winning a scrappy seventh frame.
The ’Jester from Leicester’ looked set to take a 5-3 lead into the evening session but missed a tricky red on a break of 53 and O’Sullivan produced a brilliant 48 clearance to get back on level terms.
In the evening session the world champion fluked a red and went on to clear up for a 5-4 advantage – before Selby hit back strongly by reeling off three frames in impressive fashion.
The world number four squared the match with a break of 101, followed up with another run of 89 to take the lead – then produced a break of 114 which put him in a strong position at 7-5.
However, O’Sullivan kept his hopes alive by winning a scrappy 13th frame, then made Selby pay for a missed opportunity in the 14th frame, snatching it on the black to level the contest.
The 33-year-old took control with a break of 110 in the next but Selby levelled the match with a knock of 76.
O’Sullivan put himself one frame away from victory with a cool clearance of 18 - after both players had missed chances on the blue as tension took over.
A restart was needed when both players agreed to referee Jan Verhaas’ suggestion of a rerack in the early stages of the 18th frame.
And with the clock approaching midnight another rerack was required after another bout of safety had led to stalemate.
However, O’Sullivan finished the stronger and he took his chance when he got it to make sure of a fourth title.
