The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Rocket takes off in Sheffield
Ronnie O’sullivan looked every inch the champion as he reeled off six straight frames against Matthew Stevens in a Crucible masterclass yesterday.
Seeking a fourth title in Sheffield, O’sullivan surged 11-5 clear in the second semi- final of the world championship on the back of a stunning session.
The Rocket treated the Sheffield audience to breaks of 61, 62, 110, 98, 90 and 113, clicking into the form which has seen him overcome three former world champions already.
Peter Ebdon, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson had no answer to O’sullivan’s brilliance in the earlier rounds and, although Stevens was briefly level yesterday, having started 5-3 in arrears, trouble soon began to mount for the Welshman.
The 34- year- old Carmarthen cueman knew there was the potential for O’sullivan to throw in a magical session, having witnessed the punishment meted out to Williams last Sunday.
He must hope now that today is significantly different, because another 6-2 session in O’sullivan’s favour when they resume this morning will see the match finish with a session to spare. The target for a place in the final is 17 frames. Golspie driver Lewis Williamson begins a journey which he hopes will lead to Formula One when he starts the Formula Renault 3.5 series in Spain this weekend.
The 22- year- old will drive for the Arden Caterham team in the opening two rounds at the Motorland Aragon circuit, near Alcaniz, today and tomorrow.
Williamson, who is a member of the Red Bull young driver development programme, aims to follow in the footsteps of current Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel.
He said: “This is as big a challenge as I have set myself.
“It is another big learning curve for me, but those are the challenges I keep givingmyself. It all helps to develop me as a driver.
“Sebastian has certainly shown in the past how important it is todowell in the World Series.
“Arden Caterham is a new team so we are running fast to catch up with the established teams, but we have shown through pre-season testing that we have the pace.
“We have had a few glitches, but that is exactly what testing is all about, identifying the problems, and solving them.
“We have done that, and we head to the opening round at Aragon in Spain quietly confident.”
Williamson, who will be partnered by American driver Alexander Rossi at Arden Caterham this season, added: “Of course, I have set myself objectives, but they are private targets.
“I know what I amcapable of and we are all working as part of the team to deliver the best we can.
“Hopefully, we can get the season off to a great start this weekend Spain.”
Inverness driver Dave Newsham, meanwhile, claimed his best finish in the British touring car championships at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire by finishing second
in in round seven of the event. Newsham was sixth in round eight and 18th in round nine and moved up one place in the overall standings to seventh.