Reports on UK Championship Final Sun 7th Dec

Four-time champion Ronnie O'Sullivan opened up a 5-3 lead over Judd Trump in the final of the UK Championship.

Both players were knocking in superb long pots early on but it was O'Sullivan who stroked in 82 as he went 3-1 ahead at the interval.

   "Absolute poop so far, need to play 10 times better to have a chance," Trump tweeted during the break in York.

But O'Sullivan punished mistakes to go 5-2 up, with Trump taking the last frame ahead of the evening's session.

Trump said prior to the final that he needs to play 'perfect' snooker to beat O'Sullivan, but unexpected misses and poor safety shots allowed his opponent to capitalise.

'The Rocket' was barely at his best but the Bristol man needs a considerable improvement to overturn the deficit against the best frontrunner in the game - although it could have been much worse at 5-1 down.

The sixth frame typified Trump's performance in the match thus far, doing all the hard work before missing a routine red into the middle, allowing O'Sullivan to clear up and guaranteeing himself a lead going into the final session.

A tactical seventh frame went Trump's way, and he clinched the vital eighth to stay in touch before the resumption at 19:00 GMT.

Ronnie O'Sullivan withstood an epic Judd Trump comeback to claim a fifth UK Championship title with a 10-9 victory.

O'Sullivan led from the off and went 5-1 ahead in the first session, before Trump pulled two frames back to stay within touching distance.

He then fell 9-4 behind but a superb revival saw Trump emerge from the brink, making breaks of 120 and 127 to level the contest at 9-9.

But Trump fouled from a snooker in the last allowing O'Sullivan to triumph.

"That is the hardest match I have ever played," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "I was going through the motions and accepted I was going to get beaten.

"I didn't know what day it was but I found something towards the end and was able to hold my position."

O'Sullivan - who has now won every UK final in which he has appeared - was the highest-ranked player left in the tournament after the surprise exits of world champion Mark Selby, defending champion Neil Robertson and Chinese number one Ding Junhui.

He broke his ankle while running before the tournament and was in significant discomfort in the early rounds, but the pain seemed to ease as he progressed through each match, compiling a magnificent maximum 147 break in the quarter-final.

The 39-year-old looks to be getting better with age and his success in the competition comes 21 years after winning it for the first time in 1993.

He has now won each of the UK, World and Masters titles on five occasions. His 27th ranking win leaves him one behind Steve Davis and nine behind Hendry in the all-time list.

This match up was billed as two players with attacking and aesthetic styles, and O'Sullivan was running away with it at 9-4 before Trump mounted a brilliant comeback.

But a lack of composure when in amongst the balls early on caused the damage, enabling O'Sullivan to pick him off.

"When your opponent is dishing up every time, it is demoralising and dents your confidence," said Trump.

"Towards the end I let go and I made a good clearance to go 9-9. I felt so relaxed and was waiting for the chance in the last but the good safety won it for him."

The pair met in the Champion of Champions final last month, with O'Sullivan emerging victorious after an outstanding performance in which he made four centuries and their first head-to-head ranking event final turned into a classic.

'The Rocket' was barely at his best yet managed to open up a 5-1 advantage, before Trump clinched the vital seventh and eighth frames to stay in touch.

He could have closed to within a frame but could only muster 48 and 56 in subsequent frames, and instead O'Sullivan's counter-attacking clearances put him 7-3 in front.

Trump pulled one back but O'Sullivan made his first century of the match - the 770th of his career - and took the next to go one away from victory.

World number 11 Trump said ahead of this encounter that he had to play 'perfect' snooker to beat O'Sullivan and remarkably, he found another gear to win five consecutive frames including two centuries and 86 to force a decider.

O'Sullivan had the first chance in the final frame but made only 20. Trump, though, could only respond with 14.

But O'Sullivan's excellent safety laid the platform for a match winning 51 break to lift the trophy and collect the £150,000 prize money, plus £44,000 for his 147.

The Masters 2015 1st Round Draw

Allen/Trump v Higgins*

Bingham v Fu

Allen/Trump v Maguire*

O'Sullivan v Walden

Robertson v Milkins

Selby v Murphy

Hawkins v Carter

Ding v Perry 

Ties to be confirmed later today

How I saw the UK Championship Final on Sun 7th Dec

Ronnie O'Sullivan 5-3 Judd Trump (best of 19 frames first to 10 is the UK Champion)

Frame 1: Ronnie starts with a 14 break after losing concentration on a pot, Judd the young pretender at the table on a break of 23 with 6 reds left, a few heavy contacts not helping Judd's positional play. He moves to 40 tried to disturb the pink & black didn't quite work.

Break ends on 44 after an attempt to nudge a red into a pottable position which almost worked out it was very close according to Stephen Hendry in the BBC Sport commentary booth. A safety battle at the moment, 3 reds left Judd leads by 30 with 51 on the table.

Ronnie with a beauty of a long pot gets on the black too cracking pot, the Rocket makes 13 after he misses a red gasps from the Barbican crowd in York.

Ronnie puts Judd behind the blue which Judd gets out of but sticks the red into a pottable position for Ronnie. The Rocket then takes the frame a tight one & leads 1-0.


Frame 2: Judd starts with a trademark long pot, break ends on 37 after a missed pink in the middle, Ronnie responds with 32. Judd knocks in another cracking red, and he gets over the line with a break of 50. 1-1.


Frame 3: 21 to start from Ronnie didn't come far enough to get position on the next red, Judd didn't make any addition to his score so Ronnie back in, clinches the frame in double quick time with a break of 82, 2-1 to the Rocket.


Frame 4: Another brilliant pot for Judd opening red but unfortunately he ran out of posiiton stuck on a red in the pack, Ronnie pots a red no colour available plays safe on the top cushion.

Judd makes only 6, Ronnie looking to take a 2 frame lead into the mid session interval, not yet he won't only a break of 12.

Judd sticks Ronnie behind the yellow, hits it 2nd time. Judd thin cuts a red into the corner can't get good position at the moment on a colour, nominates pink goes in-off.

100% long pot success for both players so far, Ronnie looking to make this a 2 frame lead now, a break of 48 clinches the frame for the Rocket.

After just over an hour it's 3-1 to Ronnie.


Frame 5: Ronnie opens up after the interval with a nice red, uncharateristic miss on the black from Ronnie on 6, Judd tweeted saying he felt he didn't play very well in the first 4 frames he misses an easy red, Ronnie makes a plant and is on his way, missed red in the right middle on 28.

Judd potted a nice red missed cannon on the black, eventually nominated the green, foul called, Ronnie elects for Judd to play from the same place & the black is hit this time.

Long pot number 7 in for Ronnie, cluster of 5 reds which Ronnie tried to open but missed the cannon, finds a plant makes it & seals the frame with a break of 81, it's 4-1 to the Rocket.


Frame 6: Safety shot goes wrong for Judd, Ronnie with an easy starter, 33 break for Ronnie, Judd pots the red Ronnie missed, blue goes in cannons into the pack not a lot on, plays safe,

O'Sullivan makes 8 has a 35 point lead in the frame.

Judd pots two cracking balls red & yellow gets the luck this time with a nice kiss on the red to open up a chance for his 2nd frame, misses a red in the right middle on 43, too much pace.

Ronnie wins the frame punishes Judd for a careless miss, it's 5-1.


Frame 7: Ronnie played a good safety but Judd found a red & he needs a confidence building, frame winning break here only 19 red over the left corner.

Rare miss on 16 for Ronnie, Judd gets a heavy contact missed black hard luck.

Bout of safety, Judd gives 4 away nice connection 2nd time around, nice pot on the red & position was good, Judd needs to win this frame in my opinion to give himself a chance in this final.

46 gets to snookers required stage, misses the red to definitely seal the frame.

One snooker needed for Ronnie, gets red & black, 30 behind 27 on.

Judd pots the yellow, green & brown, 5-2 to Ronnie


Frame 8: Good red from Judd he will want a frame winner for huge confidence going into the final session tonight. loses position on 39.

Few small breaks Judd has a 49 point lead in the frame.

O'Sullivan onto 18 points 2 reds left.

Ronnie finds a path for a red to pass the pink into the left corner snookers Judd behind the brown.

18 points given away by Judd (all hits on the pink), Ronnie pots the last red & the blue.

8 behind is Ronnie 27 on.

Ronnie puts the green behind the blue clever shot, Judd went in off.

Green, brown & blue potted - Session over 5-3 Ronnie.

UK Championship Sat 6th Dec Semi Finals

Stuart Bingham 5-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan 

Judd Trump 6-4 Stephen Maguire

UK Championship Fri 5th Dec 1/4 finals

Anthony McGill (Sco) 4-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

Graeme Dott (Sco) 5-6 Stuart Bingham (Eng)

Marco Fu (HK) 4-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)

Mark Davis (Eng) 1-6 Judd Trump (Eng)

UK Championship Thurs 4th Dec Round 4

Judd Trump (Eng) 6-3 Rod Lawler (Eng)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 5-6 Marco Fu (HK)

Stephen Maguire (Sco) 6-3 David Morris (Ire)

Matthew Selt (Eng) 0-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) including a maximum break 147!

UK Championship Wednesday 3rd Dec Round 4

Anthony McGill (Sco) 6-5 John Higgins (Sco)

Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-0 Ricky Walden (Eng)

James Cahill (Eng) 2-6 Mark Davis (Eng)

Neil Robertson (Aus) 5-6 Graeme Dott (Sco)

UK Championship Tues 2nd Dec Round 3

Robert Milkins (Eng) 0-6 Graeme Dott (Sco)

Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-2 Peter Ebdon (Eng)

Ben Woollaston (Eng) 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

Joel Walker (Eng) 5-6 Stuart Bingham (Eng)

Ding Junhui (Chn) 5-6 James Cahill (Eng)

Mark Williams (Wal) 2-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)

Rod Lawler (Eng) 6-4 Mark Allen (NI)

Joe Perry (Eng) 5-6 Mark Davis (Eng)

UK Championship Mon 1st Dec Round 3

David Gilbert (Eng) 2-6 David Morris (Ire)

John Higgins (Sco) 6-2 Matthew Stevens (Wal)

Fraser Patrick (Sco) 3-6 Judd Trump (Eng)

Nigel Bond (Eng) 4-6 Anthony McGill (Sco)

Matthew Selt (Eng) 6-4 Rory McLeod (Eng)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 6-4 Jack Lisowski (Eng)

Marco Fu (HK) 6-3 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)

Ken Doherty (Ire) 1-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)

UK Championship Sun 30th Nov Round 2

Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-5 Kyren Wilson (Eng)

Kurt Maflin (Nor) 1-6 Peter Ebdon (Eng)

Mark Davis (Eng) 6-4 Liam Highfield (Eng)

Ken Doherty (Ire) 6-4 Michael White (Wal)

Rory McLeod (Eng) 6-5 Zhang Anda (Chn)

Rod Lawler (Eng) 6-5 Martin Gould (Eng)

Luca Brecel (Bel) 0-6 Mark Allen (NI)

Yu De Lu (Chn) 4-6 Stephen Maguire (Sco)

Tom Ford (Eng) 3-6 Joel Walker (Eng)

Alfie Burden (Eng) 3-6 Stuart Bingham (Eng)

Joe Perry (Eng) 6-1 Mike Dunn (Eng)

Matthew Selt (Eng) 6-4 Xiao Guodong (Chn)

Ben Woollaston (Eng) 6-3 Tony Drago (Mal)

Peter Lines (Eng) 3-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 6-3 Robin Hull (Fin)

Liang Wenbo (Chn) 4-6 Jack Lisowski (Eng)

UK Championship Sat 29th Nov Round 2

John Higgins (Sco) 6-4 Jamie Cope (Eng)
Fraser Patrick (Sco) 6-4 Ryan Day (Wal)
Michael Holt (Eng) 3-6 Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha)
Matthew Stevens (Wal) 6-3 Gerard Greene (NI)
Ding Junhui (Chn) 6-2 Jimmy White (Eng)
David Gilbert (Eng) 6-2 Mark Joyce (Eng)
Marco Fu (HK) 6-1 Lu Haotian (Chn)
David Morris (Ire) 6-4 Mark Selby (Eng)
Robert Milkins (Eng) 6-0 Marcus Campbell (Sco)
Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-4 Anthony Hamilton (Eng)
Robbie Williams (Eng) 5-6 Ricky Walden (Eng)
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 5-6 Nigel Bond (Eng)
Igor Figueiredo (Bra) 4-6 Anthony McGill (Sco)
James Cahill (Eng) 6-4 Andrew Higginson (Eng)
Aditya Mehta (Ind) 1-6 Judd Trump (Eng)
Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 0-6 Mark Williams (Wal)

UK Championship First Round Results

First round results

(Best of 11 frames)

Thursday 27 November

Luca Brecel (Bel) 6-1 Noppon Saengkham (Tha)

Mark Williams (Wal) 6-1 Steven Hallworth (Eng)

Ken Doherty (Ire) 6-2 Mitchell Mann (Eng)

Mark Davis (Eng) 6-2 Jak Jones (Wal)

Marco Fu (HK) 6-4 Ahmed Saif (Qat)

Jamie Jones (Wal) 3-6 Liam Highfield (Eng)

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha) 5-6 Robin Hull (Fin)

Jimmy Robertson (Eng) 6-1 Zho Yeulong (Chn)

Ali Carter (Eng) 5-6 Zhang Anda (Chn)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 6-2 Daniel Wells (Wal)

Mark Allen (NI) 6-2 Eden Sharav (Sco)

Liang Wenbo (Chn) 6-3 David Grace (Eng)

Rory McLeod (Eng) 6-2 Ian Burns (Eng)

Peter Lines (Eng) 6-4 Joe Swail (NI)

Jack Lisowski (Eng) 6-1 Chris Melling (Eng)

Cao Yupeng (Chn) 4-6 Lyu Haotian (Chn)

Neil Robertson (Aus) 6-0 Joe O'Connor (Eng)

Michael White (Wal) 6-2 Cao Xinlong (Chn)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 6-3 James Wattana (Tha)

Stephen Maguire (Sco) 6-2 Lu Ning (Chn)

Kyren Wilson (Eng) 6-5 Gary Wilson (Eng)

Yu De Lu (Chn) 6-2 Oliver Lines (Eng)

David Gilbert (Eng) 6-4 Elliot Slessor (Eng)

Mark Joyce (Eng) 6-2 Ratchayothin Yotharuck (Tha)

Wednesday 26 November

Xiao Guodong (Chn) 6-1 Ian Glover (Eng)

John Higgins (Sco) 6-2 Lee Walker (Wal)

Matthew Stevens (Wal) 6-2 Allan Taylor (Eng)

Martin Gould (Eng) 6-4 Lee Page (Eng)

Anthony McGill (Sco) 6-4 Michael Georgiou (Eng)

Jamie Cope (Eng) 6-2 John Astley (Eng)

Gerard Greene (Eng) 6-2 Vinnie Calabrese (Aus)

Ben Woollaston (Eng) 6-4 Michael Wasley (Eng)

Dominic Dale (Wal) 4-6 Tony Drago (Mal)

Ding Junhui (Chn) 6-0 John Sutton (Ire)

Jimmy White (Eng) 6-2 Dave Harold (Eng)

Mark King (Eng) 0-6 James Cahill (Eng)

Matthew Selt (Eng) 6-0 Hammad Miah (Eng)

Andrew Higginson (Eng) 6-3 Tian Pengfei (Chn)

Mike Dunn (Eng) 6-2 Andrew Pagett (Wal)

Ricky Walden (Eng) 6-2 Steve Davis (Eng)

Fergal O'Brien (Ire) 4-6 Igor Figueiredo (Bra)

Ryan Day (Wal) 6-1 Lu Chenwei (Chn)

Mark Selby (Eng) 6-0 Oliver Brown (Eng)

Robbie Williams (Eng) 6-4 Sam Baird (Eng)

Jamie Burnett (Sco) 4-6 Fraser Patrick (Sco)

Rod Lawler (Eng) 6-5 Alex Borg (Mal)

David Morris (Eng) 6-4 Li Hang (Chn)

Tuesday 25 November

Peter Ebdon (Eng) 6-5 Ross Muir (Sco)

Robert Milkins (Eng) 6-0 Michael Leslie (Sco)

Graeme Dott (Sco) 6-2 Alexander Ursenbache (Swi)

Barry Hawkins (Eng) 6-1 Ashley Carty (Eng)

Kurt Maflin (Nor) 6-1 Chris Norbury (Eng)

Marcus Campbell (Sco) 6-4 Scott Donaldson (Sco)

Anthony Hamilton (Eng) 6-5 Craig Steadman (Eng)

Nigel Bond (Eng) 6-3 Stuart Carrington (Eng)

Alan McManus (Sco) 1-6 Joel Walker (Eng)

Stuart Bingham (Eng) 6-0 Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon (Tha)

Michael Holt (Eng) 6-1 Zak Surety (Eng)

Tom Ford (Eng) 6-4 Barry Pinches (Eng)

Alfie Burden (Eng) 6-4 Chris Wakelin (Eng)

Aditya Mehta (Ind) 6-4 Alex Davies (Eng)

Dechawat Poomjaeng (Tha) 6-2 Andrew Norman (Eng)

Judd Trump (Eng) w/o Rouzi Maimaiti (Chn)

Joe Perry (Eng) w/o Liu Chuang (Chn)

World Championships Day 17 - The Final Sessions 3+4

Mark Selby 12-11 Ronnie O'Sullivan (5-1 session to Selby was 7-10 overnight)

(first to 18 wins the title)

Frame 18: 32 to open for Ronnie, a real stalemate with yellow & green over baulk pockets, Ronnie goes in-off, Mark in with a chance, Mark doing a really good job with a tough table, 55 break leaves Ronnie needing a snooker, Mark takes the frame well deserved. 10-8.

Frame 19: Ronnie snookers Mark behind the green off the break, eventually 22 foul points later, Mark hits a red, Mark keeping Ronnie at arms length small break reds all around the pink & black. Good safety from Mark puts Ronnie behind the green, foul called twice, Mark with a break of 38 at the moment, The Jester as he is known looking far more relaxed & alert after his epic semi final win v Neil Robertson, a 52 break courtesy of a missed frame ball red, Ronnie can tie, missed black, should be Mark's frame now. 10-9.

Frame 20: Selby with the early advantage, Ronnie had a early chance missed red, Mark finding it hard going, a great break of 74 to level at 10-10. 

Frame 21: Ronnie with a slight lead in a tactical frame, 28 break for Mark, leads by 27 points, 34 lead, 35 on, colours left Mark clears the lot. 11-10. 

Frame 22: Mark first in, 36 break confidence is a wonderful thing, missed red Ronnie in. 50 break (14 ahead), a further 8 points, clear tension both missing easy balls, eventually Ronnie pots the green, we're level at 11-11. 

Frame 23: 8 point lead for Selby in a tight frame, Ronnie at the table, a 28 break for Ronnie 2 point lead for Selby, Mark snookered behind the black, missed three times, yellow now safe, Ronnie mis-hits a safety, Mark snookers Ronnie, hit by the Rocket, roles reversed Ronnie in trouble, this is the last frame of the session due to the players needing a hour between sessions. Colours left, Mark pots the yellow, missed green, Mark pots the green safety on the brown, 1 point lead for Ronnie. Blue knocked safe for now, brown left over the pocket for Ronnie, blue for Ronnie, missed pink incredible! Black for 12-11 Selby, IT IS THERE! See u tonight!

Mark Selby leads defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 12-11 going into Monday night's final session of the World Snooker Championship final.

Five-time champion O'Sullivan dramatically missed a routine pink which would have sealed the last frame of the afternoon session.

Earlier Selby, who trailed 10-7 overnight, won the day's first four frames, taking his winning run to six.

O'Sullivan faces a real fight when the best-of-35 match resumes at 19:00 BST.

Eight frames were scheduled for the day's first of two sessions, but only six were played as the players fought out a gripping battle.

Leicester potter Selby, seeking his first world title, looked refreshed and claimed five of the six.

O'Sullivan, who sought advice from his psychologist Steve Peters during the interval, is behind going into the last session for the first time in six final appearances at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.

Selby showed none of the fatigue that appeared to set in early in the final, with breaks of 55, 52 and 74 - his highest of the match so far - to level up at 10-10.

He then took the lead for the first time in the match, punching the air, after winning a topsy-turvy 21st frame just before the mid-session interval.

O'Sullivan returned after the break slightly more relaxed with a 50 run to make it 11-11 despite an error-strewn frame.

But Selby won a thrilling 23rd frame lasting 50 minutes as O'Sullivan missed a sitter on the pink. 

Mark Selby 18-14 Ronnie O'Sullivan 

Frame 24: Ronnie straight in with a frame winning century 100 exactly 12-12.

Frame 25: Just two foul shots by Ronnie, 12 points given away, Mark with a nice red & brown down to the business end of the table, 34 break leads by 46 points. Only 24 to respond from Ronnie. A missed frame ball again for Mark. Safety battle with two reds left,  Selby left a pot got it! Selby leads 13-12. 

Frame 26: 14-12 Selby (39-64)

Frame 27: 15-12 Selby (12-90, Selby 56 break)

Frame 28: 15-13 Selby (79-0)

Frame 29: 15-14 Selby (66-47)

Frame 30: 16-14 Selby (0-131, Selby 127 break)

Frame 31: 17-14 Selby (14-87, Selby 87 break)

Frame 32: Ronnie leads in the frame by 29 points, but Mark Selby is the champion! He wins 18-14! 

Mark Selby staged a remarkable comeback to beat defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan 18-14 in the final of the World Championship in Sheffield.

Leicester's Selby, runner-up in 2007, was 10-5 behind but won 10 of the next 12 frames for a 15-12 lead.

Five-time champion O'Sullivan, who had never lost a world final, reduced the deficit to 15-14, only for Selby to win the next three frames.

His victory means he returns to the top of the world rankings and leaves O'Sullivan two behind Stephen Hendry's record tally of seven world titles.

Selby, 30, is £300,000 richer for his Crucible triumph and is the ninth player to win the Triple Crown, having won three Masters titles and a UK Championship.

He immediately dedicated his success to father David who passed away in 1999.

"It's not really sunk in but my father passed away when I was 16 and I always said I wanted to win the world title for him," he said.

"I dug in; I did not play pretty snooker early on but as it wore on I did well. There's no better way than beating Ronnie in the final."

Selby looked jaded on Sunday following his epic semi-final against Neil Robertson but managed to win the final two frames to stay within three of O'Sullivan, who wrapped up his last-four encounter against Barry Hawkins with a session to spare.

Selby has a history of overcoming deficits against O'Sullivan in big games. In the Welsh Open final in 2008 he came back from 5-8 down to win 9-8, and in the Masters final in 2010 overturned a 6-9 deficit to win 10-9.

Selby was a different player in Monday's first session, winning five of the six frames played and dragging his rival into unfamiliar territory, O'Sullivan having never before trailed heading into the final session of a Crucible final.

Selby made breaks of 55, 52 and 74 - his highest of the match so far - to level the contest at 10-10 before winning a tense 21st frame to lead for the first time.

O'Sullivan retook the lead after the mid-session interval, winning an error-strewn frame courtesy of a run of 50. But a jaw-dropping moment in the final frame of the session, which lasted 50 minutes, handed Selby the lead again.

The momentum having swung this way and that, O'Sullivan only needed a simple pink into the middle pocket to clinch the frame but inexplicably decided to play it with pace and missed the pot. Selby duly cleared up before punching the air and ramming his cue into the ground in a mixture of relief and elation.

Eight frames were scheduled for the session but it was a measure of the attritional nature of the action that they could only fit six in before the interval.

O'Sullivan won the first frame after the restart with a fluent break of 100, his third century of the match, to level at 12-12. But Selby won a 28-minute frame to restore his advantage before opening up a two-frame lead for the first time.

Selby compiled a break of 56 to increase his lead to three frames before the mid-session interval, meaning O'Sullivan had lost 10 of the previous 12 frames.

O'Sullivan came out firing after the restart, rattling in breaks of 30 and 49 to reduce the gap to two frames. And O'Sullivan potted a magnificent yellow down the cushion before clearing up the rest of the balls to make it 15-14.

But Selby reacted in style, knocking in a break of 127, his first century of the match, before compiling a run of 87 to get to within one frame of victory.

O'Sullivan had chances in the next frame to stave off defeat but after he missed the final red Selby pounced to complete a nerve-jangling clearance.

World Championships Day 16 - The Final Sessions 1+2

Mark Selby 3-5 Ronnie O'Sullivan (resumes 1900) (best of 35 frames first to 18 wins the title)

Frame 1: Ronnie wins it with a 69 break, impeccable safety from the Rocket as well.

Frame 2: Ronnie takes the 2nd frame with small breaks. 

Frame 3: 102 from the Rocket - 3-0.

Frame 4: Mark takes the frame with a 37 break, 3-1 at the interval.

Frame 5: Tight frame Mark wins his 2nd frame in a row. 3-2 Ronnie.

Frame 6: A 63 from Ronnie extends his lead to 4-2. 

Frame 7: Selby pulls a frame back astonishingly it's 4-3. 

Frame 8: Ronnie wins the 8th with a 27 clearance on the colours.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will go into the second session of the World Snooker final with a 5-3 lead after being pegged back by Mark Selby.

The defending champion, seeking a sixth title, went 3-0 ahead before Leicester-based Selby pulled it back to 4-3.

World number three Selby was left to rue a poor miss when closing in on 4-4 in the final frame of the afternoon.

He has managed a top break of 38 so far ahead of the resumption of play with another nine frames from 19:00 BST.

It looked like the exertions from Saturday's marathon 17-15 victory over Neil Robertson had caught up with Selby as he struggled to get going early on.

He failed to pot a ball in the opening frame and then O'Sullivan took advantage of some poor safety shots to wrap up the second, and then third with a 102 break.

But Selby came back into things by winning two tactical frames either side of the interval.

A break of 63 saw the Essex player claim the sixth frame but a couple of uncharacteristic poor safety shots in the seventh gave his opponent the chance of going into the evening session all square.

He looked on course to level when fluking the final red, but a poor miss on the subsequent black gifted O'Sullivan the frame.

Mark Selby 7-10 Ronnie O'Sullivan (3-5 after session 1, 4-5 session 2) 3rd session 1400 Mon

Frame 9: Now 6-3 after a 40 odd break from Ronnie.

Frame 10: A 52 gives Ronnie the upper hand in the frame which he eventually wins by potting the pink.

Frame 11: Selby first in with a 23, Ronnie wins the frame with a 63 break. 

Frame 12: Ronnie non-existent in this frame, Mark really needs this frame a 55 break puts him close to achieving that he gets it. 8-4 at Mid Session Interval

Frame 13: Mark leaves Ronnie needing a snooker Ronnie gets it, Mark giving penalty points away, but Ronnie fouls the green & Mark takes the frame. 8-5.

Frame 14: Ronnie responds with a 1 visit frame win of 131 fabulous 9-5. 

Frame 15: Ronnie with another frame winning break, 87 10-5.

Frame 16: Key frame for Mark to win which he does, a 58 10-6.

Frame 17: Mark wins the last frame of the day with his highest break of the match a 62, it is 10-7 to O'Sullivan overnight. 

Ronnie O'Sullivan edged closer to a sixth World Snooker crown as he took a 10-7 overnight lead over Mark Selby.

Play resumes on Monday at 14:00 BST with the Rocket needing eight frames for a third consecutive Crucible win.

At one stage it appeared as if O'Sullivan would run away with things after dominant breaks of 131 and 87 in the 14th and 15th frames.

But battling Selby claimed the final two frames of an intriguing second session.

Just as he had in the first session, O'Sullivan won the opening three frames of the second, although neither player was at their free-flowing best early on.

Selby went on to win the next two, with a 55 break in the 12th before an O'Sullivan foul on the final green had the Leicester potter dreaming of a way back in at 8-5.

But that was the cue for O'Sullivan to turn on the style by winning the next two frames with ease in a whirlwind 20-minute period, which included his 12th century break of the tournament.

However, he showed his trademark battling qualities and clinched the 16th with 58 and then the final frame of the day with 62, his two highest breaks of the match, to remain in contention. 

World Championships Day 15

Neil Robertson 15-17 Mark Selby 

Mark Selby beat world number one Neil Robertson 17-15 to set up a World Championship final against defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The world number two triumphed in a marathon semi-final at the Crucible that lasted more than 12 hours.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling tired," said Englishman Selby.

"Ronnie's a genius and doesn't fear anyone. I know I'll get my chances, but it's a matter of whether I take them or not."

O'Sullivan has won each of his previous five finals, while Selby, 30, lost on his only appearance, against John Higgins in 2007.

Selby added: "I'm sure I won't sleep because of all the adrenaline but I'm going to go out there in the final and enjoy it."


Selby and Robertson started the final session on Saturday tied at 12-12.

Robertson, 32, won the first frame before Selby took four of the next five frames, thanks to breaks of 79, 77 and 54, to move within one of victory.

Robertson, who earlier in the tournament became the first player to make 100 century breaks in a season, reduced the deficit with a contribution of 108.

But Selby took advantage of a poor Robertson safety shot to seal victory with a 74 break.

World Championships Day 14

1st semi 2nd session: Ronnie O'Sullivan 11-5 Barry Hawkins (resumes 1900)

2nd semi 2nd session: Mark Selby 9-7 Neil Robertson (resumes 10am Sat)

Mark Selby maintained a 9-7 lead over world number one Neil Robertson in the second session of their best-of-33 World Championship semi-final.

The Leicester potter led 5-3 overnight, but Robertson levelled with a 113 break, the 102nd century of his season.

Selby fought back to lead 9-6 and looked certain to extend it with a run of 53 in the 16th frame.

But he missed a simple black and the 2010 champion fired in a break of 61 to finish the session two behind.

The third session of the contest begins at 10:00 BST on Saturday.

Selby, who lost the 2007 final 18-13 to John Higgins, trails 5-4 in head-to-head matches against Robertson, but was moving closer to levelling their personal duel when he piled on the points in the final frame of the day.

Robertson looked set to start the final session 10-6 behind, but the blunder on the black allowed the Australian back in and his classy clearance to the pink sets up a tight contest going into Saturday's third and final day.

Robertson became the first player to make 100 century breaks in a season in his 13-11 win over Judd Trump in the quarter-finals. 

1st semi 3rd session: Ronnie O'Sullivan 17-7 Barry Hawkins 

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins 17-7 with a session to spare to reach the World Championship final.

Beginning the evening six frames ahead at the Crucible, the five-time winner extended his lead with a break of 76.

Hawkins won two of the next three frames, but O'Sullivan, champion in each of the last two years, clinched four in a row to seal victory.

O'Sullivan, 38, will meet either Neil Robertson or Mark Selby in the final.

'The Rocket' punished the mistakes made by Hawkins to give himself a day off as he recorded breaks of 76, 55, 103 and 84 in the evening session.

O'Sullivan beat Shaun Murphy 13-3 in the quarter-finals and Hawkins was to fare only slightly better.

The Kent potter had started the morning trailing 6-2 after conceding the final four frames of the first session against the man who beat him in last season's final.

Although he lost the first four of the day to slip even further behind at 10-2, Hawkins finished it with a terrific 106 to close the gap to 11-5.

However, he could not maintain it in the evening and had a highest break of just 67. 

World Championships Day 13

1st semi: Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 6-2 Barry Hawkins (Eng) (10am & 7pm Friday)

Defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan built a 6-2 lead over Barry Hawkins in the first session of their best-of-33 World Championship semi-final.

The 38-year-old, seeking his third successive world title and sixth in all, took the final five frames of the afternoon, including a break of 108.

The match resumes on Friday morning at the Crucible Theatre.

Hawkins, the world number four who was beaten 18-12 by O'Sullivan in last year's final, was soon behind on Thursday as his opponent took the first with a run of 63.

But the left-hander recorded a 96 to level proceedings and then went ahead with a clearance of 76.

However, he missed a difficult long pot on the final red in frame four and O'Sullivan cleared up to make it even at the mid-session interval.

From there, O'Sullivan surged ahead, winning a scrappy final frame of the session after Hawkins missed several chances to narrow the gap to two frames overnight. 


2nd semi: Mark Selby (Eng) 5-3 Neil Robertson (Aus) (1430 Friday)

Mark Selby established a 5-3 lead over world number one Neil Robertson in the first session of their best-of-33 World Championship semi-final.

Selby took the opening frame with a 65 but needed a superb 133 clearance to make it 2-2 at the mid-session break.

However, he then added the next three frames before Robertson captured the last of the night with an assured 130 to reduce his deficit to only two.

The second session of the contest begins at 14:30 BST on Friday.

Selby, who lost the 2007 final 18-13 to John Higgins, trails 5-4 in head-to-head matches against Robertson but looked set for an early 2-0 lead, only to miss the final red as Robertson levelled with a clearance of 35.

The Australian left-hander won a tactical third frame spanning 39 minutes with a break of 46, which remained his highest until the final frame of the evening.

With 2010 champion Robertson leaving some key pots along the top cushion in the jaws of the corner pocket, world number three Selby moved ahead, aided by runs of 48 and 72.

But Robertson recorded his eighth century of the tournament - and 101st of the season - as the match went into day two intriguingly poised. 

World Championships Day 12

Morning session: Mark Selby 13-5 Alan McManus, Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-3 Shaun Murphy

Afternoon Session: Barry Hawkins 13-12 Dominic Dale, Judd Trump 9-6 Neil Robertson 

Evening Session: Judd Trump 11-13 Neil Robertson 

World Championships Day 11

Morning session

Barry Hawkins (Eng) 6-2 Dominic Dale (Wal) (resumes 1900)
Mark Selby (Eng) 4-3 Alan McManus (Sco) (resumes 1900)

Afternoon session

Shaun Murphy 2-6 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Neil Robertson 2-6 Judd Trump

Evening session

Barry Hawkins (Eng) 11-5 Dominic Dale (Wal) 

Mark Selby (Eng) 12-4 Alan McManus (Sco) 

World Championships Day 10

Afternoon session: Dominic Dale 13-4 Michael Wasley, Mark Allen 7-13 Neil Robertson 

Evening session: Judd Trump 13-7 Ryan Day, Shaun Murphy 13-8 Marco Fu 

World Championships Day 9

Morning session: Neil Robertson 4-4 Mark Allen, Shaun Murphy 4-4 Marco Fu 

Afternoon session: Dominic Dale 12-4 Michael Wasley, Judd Trump 10-6 Ryan Day 

Evening Session: Shaun Murphy 9-7 Marco Fu, Neil Robertson 9-7 Mark Allen

World Championships Day 8

Morning session: Joe Perry 11-13 Ronnie O'Sullivan (R)
Ken Doherty 5-10 Alan McManus

Afternoon session

Barry Hawkins 13-11 Ricky Walden (R)
Judd Trump 6-2 Ryan Day 

Evening Session

Ken Doherty 8-13 Alan McManus (R)

Dominic Dale 7-1 Michael Wasley 

World Championships Day 7

Morning session: Hawkins 4-4 Walden,
Selby 9-7 Carter (all matches now best of 25 frames)

Afternoon session
Joe Perry currently leads Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-7 (final session tomorrow 10am)
Alan McManus 4-3 Ken Doherty (2nd session 10am tomorrow, 3rd 7pm)

Evening session
Selby 13-9 Carter  (Result)
Barry Hawkins (Eng) 7-9 Ricky Walden (Eng) 

World Championships Day 6

Afternoon session

Resumption 10am Friday: Mark Selby 4-3 Ali Carter (second round best of 25 frames)

Result: Mark Davis 5-10 Dominic Dale (first round best of 19 frames)

Evening session: Ronnie O'Sullivan 3-5 Joe Perry (R2) 

Neil Robertson 10-2 Robbie Williams (R)

World Championships Day 5

Morning session: Barry Hawkins 10-4 David Gilbert, Judd Trump 10-8 Tom Ford 

Afternoon Session: Marco Fu 10-7 Martin Gould, Neil Robertson  7-2 Robbie Williams* 

Evening session: Mark Allen 10-4 Michael Holt, Mark Davis 2-7 Dominic Dale*

Robertson-Williams concludes 1300 Thurs

Davis-Dale concludes 1900 Thurs

World Championships Day 4

Morning matches: John Higgins (Sco) 7-10 Alan McManus (Sco), 

Marco Fu (HK) 6-3 Martin Gould (Eng) *resumes tomorrow 1430*

Afternoon matches: Barry Hawkins (Eng) 5-4 David Gilbert (Eng) *resumes 10am Weds*

Judd Trump (Eng) 6-2 Tom Ford (Eng) *resumes 10am Weds*

Evening matches:  Ricky Walden (Eng) 10-7 Kyren Wilson (Eng)

Mark Allen (NI) 5-4 Michael Holt (Eng) *resumes Weds*

World Championships Day 3 Afternoon & Evening Sessions

John Higgins (Sco) 3-6 Alan McManus (Sco) *resume 1000 Tues*

Ding Junhui (Chn) 9-10 Michael Wasley (Eng) 

Michael White (Wal) 9-10 Mark Selby (Eng)

Ricky Walden (Eng) 6-3 Kyren Wilson (Eng) *resume 1900 Tues*

World Championships Day 3 Morning Session

Joe Perry 10-7 Jamie Burnett

Frame 10: Burnett plays a poor shot to leave Joe with the first chance, only makes 14, Burnett making use of his chance but is hampered went for a double missed 27 for Burnett. Great red in the middle from Joe, moves to 48 break, looks favourite for frame, a 87 break takes the frame. (4-6 to Burnett)

Frame 11: Joe Perry in the balls a good 55 gives him control in the frame, a clearance of 70 & Joe Perry is with-in one frame at 6-5. (5-6 Burnett)

Frame 12: Good red from Burnett, 21 points ahead, great long red from Perry, makes 12 after the split on the reds didn't work, Joe back in, makes a break of 35, Burnett behind the black in trouble, almost got out of it! Great effort, hits it 2nd time, Jamie flukes a red in the middle, blue to black left, Jamie misses the blue after losing position, Joe pots the blue & pink after a safety battle we're level at 6-6.

Frame 13: Perry at the table, scrappy frame this one Perry leads by 9 points, 31 break for Burnett leads by 22 points, Jamie leaves the last red one & Joe messes position up on the blue, down to pink & black now, Joe pots them both & Perry has taken all 4 frames this morning to lead 7-6.

Frame 14: Tight frame Perry at the table 51 break missed last red, colours left Perry in charge, Perry has won 5 in a row! Leads 8-6.

Frame 15: 40 from Perry he fouled the red, lets Burnett in he couldn't take the chance, Perry takes his 6th frame in a row 9-6.

Frame 16: Morale-boosting century for Jamie 111, stops the rot 9-7 to Joe Perry.

Frame 17: Perry at the table going for frame & match, seals it with a break of 81 & wins 10-7.

Mark Selby 5-4 Michael White

Frame 1: A great break of 88 gives Selby the 1st frame.

Frame 2: White opens with a 24 break, Selby makes a frame winning 57. 2-0 Selby.

Frame 3: White in the lead in this frame by 20 points, a 43 break from Mark gives him a 19 point lead in the frame, seals the frame. 3-0 Selby. 

Frame 4: White with a points advantage in this frame, 2 reds & colours left, White takes the frame 3-1 Selby at the interval.

Frame 5: A break of 78 gives the Jester from Leicester a 4-1 lead.

Frame 6: 63 break 5-1 Selby.

Frame 7: White with a 41 break, goes on to win the frame it's 5-2 to Selby.

Frame 8: Michael White pulls another frame back it's 5-3.

Frame 9: A 28 break in the last frame of the session for Michael, leads by 17 points. White took it trails by one at 5-4 going into tonight. 

World Championships Day 2 Evening Session

Jamie Cope (Eng) 9-10 Shaun Murphy (Eng)

88-5 (75), 24-112 (112), 80-33, 0-75 (70), 2-88 (87), 1-82 (70), 74-7, 65-54, 72-28, 64-75 (Cope 64, Murphy 75), 63-43, 64-25, 28-68 (68), 4-75 (52), 71-30, 1-74, 38-81 (58), 88-34, 49-65

World Championships Day 2 Afternoon Session

Ali Carter 10-8 Xiao Guodong 

92-6, 0-66, 66-0 (52), 66-27, 77-16 (56), 20-64 (59), 3-73 (73), 56-68 (52), 71-43, 35-79 (54), 2-65, 82-0 (81), 72-32, 16-71 (70), 73-11 (55), 59-69 (Carter 59, Xiao 69), 80-0 (80), 79-0

World Championships Day 2 Morning Session

Ken Doherty 10-5 Stuart Bingham

Frame 10: The Irishman takes the first frame of the session.

Frame 11: Also the 2nd with a 55 break

Frame 12: 3 frame lead for Ken now 60 break for the Darling of Dublin

Frame 13: All 4 frames this morning for Ken (67-20)

Frame 14: A 57 moves Doherty to within one of victory

Frame 15: Another 60 break seals the win 10-5

World Snooker Championships Day 1 Evening Session

Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4 Robin Hull 

Frame 10: Breaks of 30 & 41 give the Rocket a 8-2 lead

Frame 11: Breaks of 39 & 52 gives Hull the frame.

Frame 12: A good 60 break & points required gives Robin the frame.

Frame 13: Ronnie wins the frame tad shaky that one couple of 30 breaks.

Frame 14: Ronnie wins the 10th frame with a 54 break, he is in R2. 

World Snooker Championships Day 1 Afternoon Session

Shaun Murphy (Eng) 4-5 Jamie Cope (Eng) *resumes 1900 Sunday*

Frame 1: A 75 break gives Shaun Murphy the first frame.

Frame 2: Response from Cope a 112.

Frame 3: 80-33 Cope leads now

Frame 4: A 70 from Murphy level going into the interval

Frame 5: 87 break from the Magician 

Frame 6: 70 break from Murphy

Frame 7: Cope nudges closer to Murphy (74-7)

Frame 8: Cope levels this one (54-65)

Frame 9: Cope wins the last to go 5-4 up into the final session (72-28)

World Snooker Championships Day 1 Morning Session

Morning all! Here we go again! My favourite time of the year! Sheffield's Crucible hosts the World Championships.

2 matches this morning (their 1st sessions best of 19 frames first to 10 advances to next round)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) 7-2 Robin Hull (Fin) *resumes 1900 tonight*

Frame 1: A good frame that Ronnie opened with a 45, Hull responded with a slick 53 but Ronnie took the frame in the end.

Frame 2: a 124 says it all fabulous from Ronnie.

Frame 3: Ronnie goes 3 clear with another fabulous break of 69.

Frame 4: 102 from Hull great break

Frame 5: Ronnie wins the frame after needing a snooker! Great shot from pink to black

Frame 6: An 81 from Ronnie moves him 5-1 ahead

Frame 7: Long frame Hull takes it with a break of 60 in the end.

Frame 8: Breaks of 45 & 60 give Ronnie a 6-2 lead.

Frame 9: A 90 break (was on a maximum chance) 7-2 Ronnie they're bk at 1900.

Mark Selby v Ronnie O'Sullivan Masters Final 2014

Afternoon here we go 7 titles between them I'm here for frame by frame updates


Mark Selby 1-7 Ronnie O'Sullivan (first to 10 frames, best of 19 frames 2 sessions)


Frame 1: Early nerves from Selby 3 long reds missed you daren't give the Rocket a sniff, the Rocket is in the balls remember he doesn't usually hang around so if you need a cuppa get it quick because the frame could well be done before you get back to your chosen seating arrangements! Like I said he doesn't hang around! Ronnie seals the frame in double quick time 97 great break! 1-0 O'Sullivan.


Frame 2: Clean as a whistle pot from Ronnie he could be in again! 48 at the moment cue ball is on a thin wire for Ronnie controls it so well, breaks down on 70 frame definitely over, Selby potting some balls for table time, 2-0 O'Sullivan.


Frame 3: Ronnie in again frame over in 2 visits imperious form 96 break 3-0 O'Sullivan.


Frame 4: Mark pots a lovely long red runs out of position on 7, 20 break for Selby reds down the table at the moment, Ronnie hampered over the yellow safety battle being won by Ronnie at the current stage, Selby had a little visit lost his concentration, great safety though from the man from Leicester behind yellow & brown, Ronnie gets out of it though by hitting a red onto the bottom cushion, 45 from Ronnie leads by 13, colours left now, Mark potted yellow couldn't develop the green, Ronnie has to pot the green by swerving round the pink, Ronnie seals the frame 4-0 O'Sullivan at the interval.


Frame 5: First one after the mid session interval and Ronnie looks as though he hasn't been affected by the break, 37 for Ronnie missed blue, Selby only has 6 points in this frame, safety battle going on now, Mark gets 3 points, great red along the bottom cushion from Ronnie, the Rocket wins the frame with a break of 47 5-0 O'Sullivan.


Frame 6: A 53 break from Ronnie a good start to the frame, 36 from Selby one red & colours left, Mark pots the red & the colours 5-1 O'Sullivan


Frame 7: This frame has started on the tactical side a lot of colours down the black ball end yellow, blue, pink, black all tying each other up, Selby given 7 points after Ronnie fouls on the black trying to connect with a red he did 2nd time, Selby missed a pot, Ronnie back in, not as many points as the Rocket has hoped 2 point lead in this one, Mark Selby produces a lovely pot on the red along the cushion, 37 for Mark this is better, Ronnie gets 35 a re-spotted black! Ronnie pots the black in the middle 6-1 O'Sullivan.


Frame 8: 25 points for Mark at the start of this 8th frame, Ronnie in the balls 36 break, Ronnie in a spot of bother behind the blue almost got out of it first time was very close! Got it 2nd time, Ronnie levels the score with a long red, another fantastic red along the cushion BBC's John Parrott & Dennis Taylor saying Ronnie plays them so well, I wouldn't argue! At the end of the session 7-1 O'Sullivan.

Ronnie O'Sullivan will take a commanding lead into the final session of the Masters after winning seven of the first eight frames against Mark Selby at Alexandra Palace.

O'Sullivan, 38, raced into a 5-0 lead before Selby finally won a frame.

The defending champion had chances to win the seventh frame but a missed black proved costly.

O'Sullivan, who won the Masters in 1995, 2005, 2007 and 2009, then took the final frame of the first session.

Selby won the tournament in 2008, 2010 and 2013 and faces a difficult task in the evening session with the first to 10 taking the title, but it has been done before.

In 2004 Paul Hunter was trailing by the same scoreline to O'Sullivan before eventually winning 10-9, taking the final three frames to secure his sixth professional title.



I'm back at 1900 for the remainder of the final! See you then!