 | World Championship - Final - Men
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05/05/2008 | ||||||||
R.O'Sullivan
Comments
- - So Ronnie is the champ and is anyone surprised? But what a great championship we have had. Great matches, two 147s, and some amazing play from Ronnie. Thank you for joining us for the 17 days - it has been a pleasure.
- - Ronnie's family comes out to greet him - he looks a happy man and who can blame him!
- 18-8 And O'Sullivan has got the points he needed to win the match. HE IS A THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION !!
- 17-8 Oh but Carter has missed a blue on just 16 - thinking too much about position and that could be the last shot he playes in this tournament.
- 17-8 Great long plant from Carter gets a massive applause from the crowd - he wants to extend this match a little longer. He trails 34-1 but has a chance to build a break here.
- 17-8 On 34 O'Sullivan sees the cue ball rest into the pack after getting a pot on the black slightly wrong. He is forced to play safe and he is a bit annoyed. He felt he could have finished it off there.
- 17-8 O'Sullivan gets a long pot off Carter's break - can he build a match winning break from here?
- 17-8 And instead Ronnie snookers Carter and he can't get out of it. Carter concedes and now Ronnie is JUST ONE FRAME AWAY.
- 16-8 Carter builds to 31 but fails to put Ronnie in a snooker on the last red.
- 16-8 O'Sullivan builds a break of 69 but then misses a red down the bottom cushion. Still with just 67 on the table Carter needs a snooker.
- 16-8 Ronnie has the half century now - it looks like he could move just one frame away.
- 16-8 Great snooker in behind the yellow from O'Sullivan - Carter has no option other than a hit and hope off the cushion but he has not left the cue ball safe. O'Sullivan pots a red but leaves himself with a very tough pink into one of the baulk pockets but he nails that and can now build.
- 16-8 Carter pots a long red and brings the cue ball back to baulk - he then just rolls the cue ball up against the brown for a snooker but Ronnie manages to roll the cue ball up to the pack.
- - Well, well before the action can get underway we have HAD A STREAKER - nice way to break the tension eh? But now it is time for the action...O'Sullivan breaks.
- - All the big wigs have their tuxes on - and after a little television intro the players are now ready for action.
- - So welcome back folks to the final session of this year's World Championship - how short will it be? Stay here to find out.
- - So there is a big chance that this evening's final session will be short and sweet but if Carter can fight back you won't want to miss it - join us at 20.00 BST.
- 16-8 But O'Sullivan then gets Carter in a snooker he can't get out of on the yellow and Carter concedes the frame. So O'Sullivan wins the session 5-3 and needs just TWO MORE FRAMES TO WIN.
- 15-8 Carter has got seven of the eight snooker points he needs as O'Sullivan accidentally pots the black - still on the final red.
- 15-8 A break of 44 from O'Sullivan to the final red before he plays safe on the last red. 68-25 now and Carter needs two snookers.
- 15-8 Oh dear - another very poor miss by Carter on 24-25 and AGAIN the chance to win the frame shifts. Neither player playing anywhere NEAR the standard you would expect in a world final.
- 15-8 But another TERRIBLE miss on a red from O'Sullivan - he is really not playing well at all. He leads 24-1 but Carter has just nailed a long red and might be able to build.
- 15-8 O'Sullivan pots a red but then misses a cut black straight away. However, Carter loses position after just one red. He tries to pot the black hanging over the pocket by going in off the cushion but it doesn't drop despite him hitting the black and O'Sullivan gets back in again.
- 15-8 Good stuff for Carter - he produces a break of 71 which is enough for him to chalk another frame on the board. One more frame to go today - can Ali share the session?
- 15-7 O'Sullivan misses an easy pink with the score 1-18 and that leaves Carter with another chance to potential win the frame. The pink is taking the black spot at the moment as there is a red on the pink spot.
- 15-7 Really good long pot from Carter but the black is out of commission so it might be hard to build a big break here.
- 15-7 Carter leaves the brown on and O'Sullivan this time punishes him to take the frame and that is another one of those frames that Carter could have won.
- 14-7 And Carter plays safe on the brown with the score 47-42 in O'Sullivan's favour.
- 14-7 Carter has a chance here - he gets back to 47-30 thanks to two of the reds, plus a snooker, and now Ronnie has left the last red on. The colours are all over the table though so this frame is far from over.
- 14-7 O'Sullivan plays safe while leading 47-18 - three reds left on the table.
- 14-7 Oh and a poor safety from Carter - he sees the ball hit the jaw of one of the middle pockets while trying to get back to baulk and Ronnie is in again, although the balls are not ideally positioned.
- 14-7 Carter can only get up to 18. Ronnie lets him back in for another chance after missing a pot but then Carter goes and misses a pot too.
- 14-7 After a safety exchange Carter has managed to get in with a superb long pot - he left himself on the black too - can he build from here?
- 14-7 O'Sullivan sees the cue ball get stuck in the back on 39 and he has a tough job just stretching to hit the black and the cue ball safe but he has managed not to leave a red on.
- 14-7 First chance of this frame falls to O'Sullivan as he gets in with a good long pot
- 14-7 And we will have an evening session - Carter with a break of 84 and that is enough to win the frame. Those who have tickets for tonight can start making their way to Sheffield.
- 14-6 Good stuff from Carter here - he is past the half-century mark and has a great chance to ensure that we will play into the evening.
- 14-6 Both players misses early pots in this frame but Carter now has a chance to get in.
- 14-6 And O'Sullivan has got us back underway...
- 14-6 But Carter has now left a red on and Ronnie O'Sullivan nails it and gets 14 which is enough for the frame. O'Sullivan takes three of the four frames before the mid-session interval and this match looks all but over.
- 13-6 O'Sullivan up to 70 but has a tough "frame ball" red into the middle pocket - but he gets it !! Tricky black coming up now and he misses that but a 71 means that Carter needs a snooker.
- 13-6 O'Sullivan looks all set for a long red but it somehow stays out after doing a little dance on the jaws. But then Carter misses a red straight away too so it will be Ronnie who gets to build first.
- 13-6 O'Sullivan is forced to pot a tough brown to keep a break alive and he misses it - he leaves the final red on and Carter nails it. Carter then misses the black straight after but O'Sullivan puts him out of his misery and concedes the frame.
- 13-5 Carter loses position again. He is 63-0 up with 67 left on the table...and the way things are going for him - just watch Ronnie clear up.
- 13-5 But now O'Sullivan has missed a red straight away and surely now Carter will get his first frame of the day.
- 13-5 Carter again builds a decent break (46) before missing a red so O'Sullivan will have another chance to steal a frame.
- 13-5 Ok Ali it is time for you to do something...He has just got a long red at the start of this frame - can he build from here?
- 13-5 And O'Sullivan gets the points he needs to clinch the frame and he looks out of sight now. The big question now is whether Carter can extend the game into this evening.
- 12-5 Carter leaves a red on straight away after a loose safety and here comes Ronnie again.
- 12-5 Ronnie loses position on the black so he has to play safe but still a nice break of 45 puts him in control of frame.
- 12-5 O'Sullivan is now again after a long pot - he holds for position on the black too and if Ronnie can break the reds this could be a big one.
- 12-5 And O'Sullivan does take the frame - Carter has his head in his towel - he knows he has let another slip and any chance to build up some momentum is lost.
- 11-5 O'Sullivan now on the colours which are all on (or close to) their spots.
- 11-5 BUT NOW CARTER misses a red into one of the middle pockets with just eight on the board. 48-24 but O'Sullivan can build again.
- 11-5 O'Sullivan misses a red along the bottom cushion on 24 just as it looked like he was going to build a frame winning break and Carter can get back in now and clinch it.
- 11-5 Carter misses a long red and leaves a red on. The balls are all spread out so while O'Sullivan might be 40-0 down this is a chance for him.
- 11-5 Carter's break ends at 40 - just before that though we had a very strange moment when Carter was potting a black. The black bounced around the jaws then flew up in the air before dropping back into the pocket. A real "What Happened Next" moment?
- 11-5 Carter keeps his break alive by getting down well from a brown back to the reds - onto 32 now but he is running out of loose reds - he will have to go into the pack soon.
- 11-5 Poor break from O'Sullivan he hits the blue on the way back and he has left a red on.
- - Players now being introduced so we will be underway any moment now. Ali Carter does look a bit fresher today. He is smiling and waving to the crowd, so let's hope he can bring this attitude out onto the table.
- - Welcome back folks to Sheffield for the third session of this World Championship final - eight more frames up for decision and if Ronnie can win seven of them then we will be done and dusted here.
- - So Ali Carter has a lot of work to do - it is hard to see a way back for him from here - but you bet he will give it go. Join us at 14.30 BST tomorrow for the third session.
- 11-5 A break of 106 for O'Sullivan - his first century of the match - ends the session - and those two frames at the end could prove key.
- 10-5 Carter with foul early in the last frame of the session and he has also left a red on. O'Sullivan can build a big break here.
- 10-5 Carter gets the final red but he tries a really hard black to try and get position on the yellow. He gets on the yellow but he misses the pot by a long way. Ronnie clears up to take a five frame lead with one frame left this evening.
- 9-5 Carter looked on course to take the frame but on a yellow he misses the pot while trying to get on the final red. But then O'Sullivan misses the same red !! Very poor pot by Ronnie.
- 9-5 Well Carter is in now and building a break so he might have a chance here.
- 9-5 O'Sullivan runs out of position on 57. He is still in control of the frame but Carter will fight on.
- 9-5 O'Sullivan is in for the first chance again in this frame.
- 9-5 And O'Sullivan gets back in for a break of 86 and it remains a split session. Three frames apiece this evening.
- 8-5 He loses position on 37 and is forced to play safe.
- 8-5 O'Sullivan is scrapping his way to a break here - but on 25 he has work to do if it is to continue.
- 8-5 GREAT BREAK FROM CARTER - A clearance of 80 sees him take his second frame in row and his third in four. O'Sullivan will fuming after that kick.
- 8-4 Carter leaves a red into the corner pocket on but O'Sullivan misses it and now Carter is in for a chance to win the frame.
- 8-4 Ohh but now he has got a kick and lost position on the black - he isn't happy. Still he is 45-0 in front as he now plays safe.
- 8-4 But now he nails a long pot despite been up against the baulk cushion and he has yet another chance to extend his lead.
- 8-4 O'Sullivan misses a cut which ends the break on 22. He wasn't missing shots like that in the semi-final but he is getting away with some mistakes in this match.
- 8-4 A safety shot goes wrong early for Carter and O'Sullivan has a chance to build a break here.
- - Players are back out and it is Ali Carter to break in frame 13.
- 8-4 Carter clears to the pink and takes the frame. A break in the eighties and he is hanging around here as the two players go for their mid-session cup of tea.
- 8-3 Some nice potting from Carter now at the start of a break - he has got it to 28-28 and he has a frame winning chance here.
- 8-3 Nope only 23 after Ronnie misses a yellow...
- 8-3 Here we go again - great long pot from O'Sullivan and back for the blue - he could be in again here.
- 8-3 A break of 83 for O'Sullivan ends as he pots the cue ball after sinking a green. Carter needs to hit back.
- 7-3 And on 53 O'Sullivan has opened up the reds - this could be the frame here.
- 7-3 O'Sullivan building here again in this frame - he isn't even playing at his peak but he looks so much more comfortable out there.
- 7-3 Carter with a double on the pink sees him finally take the frame and he really needed that one.
- 7-2 Great safety from O'Sullivan sees him get the red but then he misses the green he tried to position himself on the yellow. Carter then gets in to pot yellow, green, and brown before missing the blue - but that is enough to leave Ronnie needing a snooker.
- 7-2 Oh dear Carter is really feeling the pressure out there. He gets in with another fine pot but then misses a blue. 26-45 Carter with one red left.
- 7-2 Carter misses a tough pink into the middle pocket on 44. He hasn't left anything on though. He leads the frame 18-44.
- 7-2 Carter is forced into taking a really tough pot down the cushion but he produces a super long pot. He also ends up on the yellow that goes into the middle pocket and he has a chance to win the frame here.
- 7-2 Carter has been quite lucky to stay safe after a couple of great safety shots from O'Sullivan.
- 7-2 Only 18 for O'Sullivan before he overhit a pot on the blue that had gone down to the baulk end. That saw him lose position but he played a great safety behind the green to put Carter back in trouble.
- 7-2 It is only a break of 12 - Carter needed to put lots of power on a yellow to get back to the reds but he ended up missing the pot. Another chance for Ronnie.
- 7-2 O'Sullivan leaves a red to the middle pocket on after missing a long red so Carter gets the first chance to build in this frame.
- 7-2 Well the break ends at 78 as he gets a kick off a cushion and loses position but that's still enough to go 7-2 up. His biggest lead of the match.
- 6-2 Ronnie decides to play for the blue on one shot when he could have tried a tricker shot for the black - no maximum but a big break could be on.
- 6-2 Ronnie has got six reds and six blacks - very early but he could be thinking 147...
- 6-2 Carter gets a cruel kiss on a green after playing safe - he has left a red on and Ronnie has half a chance here.
- 6-2 Safety exchange to start this frame.
- - And Ronnie has broke off in this ninth frame.
- - Players have been introduced to the crowd so we are about to get underway.
- - So welcome back to the evening session here in Sheffield. A massive eight frames coming up for Carter you feel. He really needs to get at least four this evening to just keep himself in this final.
- 6-2 And O'Sullivan gets the points he needs - he was far from his best in that opening session but he still manages to build a decent lead. Join us this evening at 20.00 BST for the second session.
- 5-2 A break of 47 from O'Sullivan but then he misses a blue...that's not enough to win the frame but Carter has just played a very poor safety.
- 5-2 O'Sullivan forced to play safe after a little break of eight to start off this frame.
- 5-2 And O'Sullivan gets in again to seal the frame but another scrappy one it has to be said. This match started well but the quality has dipped.
- 4-2 Good long pot from Ronnie after a safety exchange but with nothing easy on - he decides to play safe again.
- 4-2 Another missed red from Ronnie stops a break short and he is very lucky again to not leave a read. O'Sullivan leads 56-18 with three reds left.
- 4-2 Carter can only get to 18 though and has missed another chance after a poor safety from Ronnie.
- 4-2 After a cagey spell of play Carter has got in with a nice long pot and he could build a break from here.
- 4-2 O'Sullivan is missing a few pots today - he was building another break there but misses a red on 32. He is lucky not to leave a red on at least.
- 4-2 CARTER GETS THE BROWN AND THEN CONVERTS A NICE POT ON THE BLUE. He rolls in the pink for the frame and he really needed that one. He would have been very distraught had he lost that frame.
- 4-1 Carter misses the yellow - and O'Sullivan pots that and then the green but he had a tough shot to get back to the brown. He can't pot that but leaves it safe enough. Carter misses a shot to nothing so Ronnie leads 62-61 as the players go into a safety exchange on the brown.
- 4-1 AND RONNIE FINALLY HITS IT !! - 57-61 with a long yellow on for Carter - maybe he should have taken the free ball.
- 4-1 FOURTH MISS for Ronnie - but this time he has left a free ball. Carter doesn't want it though - he asks Ronnie to go again.
- 4-1 MISSED AGAIN - but only four points this time. 57-57 now though.
- 4-1 O'Sullivan loses position going from the final black to yellow. He ends up snookering himself and he can't hit the yellow. Carter asks him to take it again and O'Sullivan is not happy with the re-spot and he misses it again. He keeps hitting the black too which means that Carter is getting seven points each time. 57-53 Ronnie now.
- 4-1 O'Sullivan misses a tough green on just 17 so Ali Carter has yet another chance to take this frame. He leads 39-17 BUT MISSES ANOTHER RED.
- 4-1 But Carter can only get 15 before missing the black. He was distracted by a noise from the crowd - not the first time that has happened this week either.
- 4-1 ANOTHER chance for Carter as O'Sullivan misses a red into one of the middle pockets you would have expected him to get. Carter has got to take chances likes this.
- 4-1 Carter makes 24 but we are now in a safety exchange.
- 4-1 Superb long red from Carter - with position on the black - gives him the first chance to build a good break in this sixth frame.
- 4-1 O'Sullivan restores his three frame lead with a break of 74 - again he can't convert the century but he is playing very well again, and it will be hard for Carter to keep up.
- 3-1 But O'Sullivan has got in again and this time it looks like he is going to build a frame winning break.
- 3-1 O'Sullivan can't convert with the first mini-chance of the frame. He is forced to play safe after putting just eight on the board. Carter committed a snooker earlier so O'Sullivan leads 12-0.
- 3-1 And we are now back underway...
- - Looking for something to do during the break? Well just before the final started - Eurosport expert and former Masters finalist Mike Hallett gave me his thoughts on the final - you can read his thoughts on the homepage or on the snooker page.
- 3-1 Carter DOES manage to continue his break - and he goes on to make 104 before the break ends on the yellow. MASSIVE frame for him before the mid-session interval.
- 3-0 Carter has another half-chance here in the fourth frame - he is on 34 now but he has a big shot on the blue coming up - can he get on the reds?
- 3-0 And it is 3-0 already - O'Sullivan with a break of 99 and he is in danger of runnning away with this already!
- 2-0 Look out folks - Ronnie is building another big break now...
- 2-0 O'Sullivan gets straight back in though and a clearance of 88 sees him go 2-0 up. Worrying early signs for Ali Carter - he needs to get on the board soon.
- 1-0 Mini-break of 39 for O'Sullivan in the second frame before he is forced to play safe.
- 1-0 And O'Sullivan has got back in to take the frame - a bit of a smash and grab effort that - he takes first blood.
- 0-0 O'Sullivan with a break of 38 to the final red but he then has to play safe - so the frame is finely balanced on a 47-56 scoreline with one red still left.
- 0-0 Carter gets back in again but on a break 32 disaster strikes as he goes into the reds after potting the blue and then sees a red go in. He leads 56-9 but O'Sullivan now has a chance to nick the frame.
- 0-0 We are underway here now and a very strange shot by Carter while breaking on 24. He needed to get a lot of screw on a red and put so much on it that he ended up chipping it over the red for the foul.
- ----- Welcome to eurosport.yahoo.com's exclusive LIVE coverage of the World Championship final with live text comments and scoring of every frame as Ronnie O´Sullivan meets Ali Carter for the Crucible crown.