RONNIE IN TOP FORM TO SECURE HUGE LEAD

Ronnie O’Sullivan accused referee Olivier Marteel of “looking for trouble” after an angry exchange marred the opening day of the World Snooker Championship final against Judd Trump in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan has one hand on a record-equalling seventh world crown after establishing a 12-5 overnight lead, but the day will be remembered for the 46-year-old’s furious response to an admonishment for allegedly making an obscene gesture midway through frame eight.

Marteel gave O’Sullivan what World Snooker Tour later confirmed was a “formal warning” for a “gesture” he made after failing to get out of a snooker, prompting O’Sullivan to challenge the official to check the camera.

O’Sullivan vehemently denied any offence in an unusual interview with Eurosport in his dressing room immediately following the afternoon session, saying: “I just think he (Marteel) seems to be looking for trouble. I just get that vibe from the guy.”

The incident marred recognition of a ruthless performance by O’Sullivan, who punished a series of misses by his opponent by winning seven of the nine frames in the evening.

Trump looked set to maintain his momentum when he took the opener with a break of 72, but O’Sullivan responded with a five-frame burst.

O’Sullivan emerged for the evening session and set about claiming another five-frame streak, repeatedly exploiting his opponent’s mistakes as Trump’s confidence seemed to ebb away.

A 66 to go 6-4, a third century of the match to go three in front, then three frames in a row in which O’Sullivan pounced on errors by his opponent swept the world No 1 into a six-frame lead.

Although Trump did gather himself and stop the rot with a break of

80 in the next, O’Sullivan eased through the final two frames of the night with breaks of 60 and 88.

Trump must now win at least two of the eight frames this afternoon to avoid the indignity of becoming the first player to lose a final with a session to spare since Jimmy White, who was beaten 18-5 by Stephen Hendry in 1993.