O’Sullivan powers into third final

Ronnie O’Sullivan reached the final of the Champion of Champions for a third straight year in Coventry last night.

The five-time world champion, chasing his third title despite losing in both of the last two events, beat Shaum Murphy 6-3 and will face the winner of today’s second semi-final between Mark Allen and Kyren Wilson.

The 42-year-old world number three made successive century breaks against the defending champion, who also had two tons in the match.

O’Sullivan pinched the opening frame by clearing to the pink with a 43 but the 2005 world champion levelled with a 123 break.

Murphy fell two behind as O’Sullivan put together runs of 64 and 82 but he reduced the deficit to 3-2 with a 34 clearance.

O’Sullivan pounced on an error with a clearance of 129 and quickly added the 965th century break of his career with a 127 in the next.

Murphy responded with a 102 but the Englishman wrapped up a third successive victory against the world number 10 with two 50 breaks in frame nine.