O’Sullivan bounces back to win Welsh Open

cardiff — Ronnie O’Sullivan won seven frames in a row to recover from a 5-2 deficit against Australia’s Neil Robertson and win the Welsh Open final 9-5 in Cardiff on Sunday.

Five-times world champion O’Sullivan, who courted controversy earlier in the tournament by refusing to complete a 147 break because he felt the cash prize for a maximum was too low, sealed a fourth Welsh Open title with a superb total clearance of 141.

Afterwards the 40-year-old said he intended to mark his victory by taking time out from snooker until the World Championships in Sheffield, northern England, in April.

“I feel shattered — I need a month of just relaxing to recharge the batteries and try to give Sheffield a good push because that’s the one everyone wants,” O’Sullivan said.

“My cue will just be chilling out for a few months,” the Englishman added.

O’Sullivan was full of praise for Robertson and said the Australian left-hander, world champion in 2010, remained the man to beat.

“Neil has been the best player all season — his game’s really improved so much. He played probably at 75 or 80 percent today and he’s definitely the best player in the world at the moment.

“I’m just pleased to have been able to compete with him. Neil had his chances but I’m just glad I managed to keep hanging in there.” Meanwhile Robertson cited the ninth frame as the turning point of Sunday’s match.

“Once he got his tail up and the momentum it was hard to wrestle it back from him,” said the 34-year-old Robertson, the 2007 Welsh Open champion.

“Everyone knows he is a terrific front runner and he pulled away and finished the match off in style. “I made mistakes and that is what happens when you are put under pressure. The few frame spell when he went from 5-3 to 6-5 up, I had opportunities but that is where he got away and played terrific stuff.” —