The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
O’Sullivan denies snubbing 147 chance as he crashes out at the Crucible
Rocket denies snubbing 147 chance in quarter-final defeat
Ronnie O’Sullivan denied he snubbed the chance of a maximum break as he crashed out of the Betfred World Championship to Ding Junhui.
Chinese superstar Ding brilliantly saw off the five-time champion, winning through 13-10 and setting up a clash with Mark Selby in the semi-finals – a repeat of last year’s final match-up.
Scotland’s John Higgins will face Barry Hawkins in the other semi-final.
O’Sullivan made a thrilling 146 break – just the third in Crucible history – as he battled in vain to stay in the tournament.
And by taking pink from the 13th red when a perfect 147 looked a formality, O’Sullivan sparked debate over whether he had spurned the opportunity because of the low prize-money on offer.
O’Sullivan said: “I was playing for the black but I just didn’t get on it. “I don’t take this stuff too seriously. “I like to entertain, I like to put on a good show, and I like to have fun and like to enjoy myself. In a world where everything’s so serious, I like to make it fun.”
Twenty years ago O’Sullivan pocketed £165,000 for a World Championship maximum that took just five minutes and 20 seconds, but this year the 41-yearold’s reward would have been £15,000, made up of a high-break prize of £10,000 and a £5,000 147 bonus.
“Let’s just say I don’t think he was giving it 110%,” said seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry, of O’Sullivan’s efforts to get on the black for a 13th time.
Before O’Sullivan played for the pink, Hendry had revealed his own surprise at the relatively modest reward on offer, saying on the BBC: “It won’t be the prize he’s thinking about, because that’s disappointing.”
When O’Sullivan was pressed on the financial rewards for the 147, and whether he was trying to make a point, he added: “I’m just having a bit of fun. Let’s not go down that route, let’s just enjoy the match and wish Ding the very best.”
At last year’s Welsh Open, O’Sullivan turned down the chance of a maximum – snooker’s greatest single-frame exploit – when he learned the prize-money was £12,000.
He said at the time he “didn’t think the prize was worthy of a 147”, and was criticised by World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn.
At the 2010 World Open in Glasgow he had to be pressed by referee Jan Verhaas to pot the black to complete a maximum after being told there was no bonus on offer.
Hearn, who has this month flatly rejected O’Sullivan’s claims of “bullying” over a disciplinary dispute, was by coincidence paying the Crucible a visit yesterday.
Hearn was in no mind to stoke up another row with O’Sullivan over the 146 though, saying: “It’s his choice. He can do what he likes. If he doesn’t want a 147, don’t have a 147.”
The masterful break from O’Sullivan had trimmed his arrears to 11-9, but Ding would not be denied and finished off with an ice-cool 117, his third century of the match.
O’Sullivan offered 30-year-old Ding a warm hug in the arena.
“He’s a special lad, a beautiful guy, and I know his family really well so I know he comes from good stock,” O’Sullivan said. “He’s all good, Ding. He wants to win this title so bad.”
A thrilled Ding said: “I played great, kept my form from the first frame to the last frame.
Explaining what O’Sullivan had told him afterwards, Ding added: “He just said that I looked a different player, how I looked stronger.
“I’m proud to have support from Ronnie. Every year I’m here trying to win the title. This year I have more confidence to come through.”
Scot Higgins powered into the last four with a 13-6 win over Kyren Wilson.
The 41-year-old four-time former champion is in fine form and is convinced he can land another title.
“I believe I can, yeah, and it’s a great feeling to have,” said Higgins.
Selby showed why he remains the man to beat with a stunning run of three centuries in four frames as he swept to a 13-3 victory over Marco Fu, winning with a session to spare.
The scoring flurry featured an extravagant 143 from Selby that briefly put him at the head of the queue for the tournament’s £10,000 top-break prize, before being leapfrogged by O’Sullivan.
Selby frequently ran out of ideal position but produced a host of cavalier pots, including terrific blacks to the left middle and green pockets and a run of exhibition shots.
It followed runs of 132 and 139, as Selby demonstrated why he has been world No 1 for the last two years.
Hawkins completed the semi-final line-up by ending the hopes of Scotland’s Stephen Maguire.
Hawkins led 9-7 at the start of the evening session but Maguire levelled after making a 135 break.
The Englishman won the next four frames to secure a 13-9 victory, adding a 126 in frame 19 and finishing off with a break off 77.