Ronnie’s in seventh heaven
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN ripped up the history books in York last night, making it a record 19 successes in snooker’s three major tournaments by becoming the first to win a seventh UK Championship title.
O’Sullivan was a 10-6 winner over reigning Masters champion Mark Allen at the Barbican Centre.
He has also won seven Masters crowns as well as five successes on the biggest stage of all, the World Championship.
O’Sullivan, who pocketed £170,000 last night, has won three of the five events he has played this season – and also reached a final and a semi-final. A limited schedule is clearly working and O’Sullivan has now edged ahead of boyhood idol Steve Davis on UK wins – and has 19 Triple Crown triumphs, one clear of Stephen Hendry.
O’Sullivan’s big breakthrough came at the UK in 1993 at the age of 17 years and 358 days – and this marked the perfect 25th year anniversary.
Hendry won his 18 majors in 11 years – less than half the time. And the Scot still holds two huge records – the mark of seven world titles at the Crucible and 36 ranking titles, but with O’Sullivan now just two adrift of that one on 34.
O’Sullivan’s tennis hero Roger Federer has won 20 slams, while the Rocket’s golf idol Tiger Woods is back on 14 majors.
But O’Sullivan is also now fast closing in on the world No1 spot – a position he last occupied eight years ago.
Allen, 32, could take consolation from his £75,000 runner-up prize, equalling his career-high ranking of No6 and a superb 2018 that saw him win the International Championship in China.
But it was a second defeat in the UK final for him, having lost to Judd Trump in 2011.