O’Sullivan wins the 21st ranking title of his career
Ronnie O’Sullivan won the first ranking event of the new campaign last night in Belfast, as he was crowned Northern Ireland Trophy champion.
The world champion and number one, who ended last season by capturing the World Championship for a third time, defeated Stoke’s Dave Harold 9-3 at the Waterfront Hall.
O’Sullivan has now won 21 ranking titles, seven short of Steve Davis, with Stephen Hendry out in front on 36. It is the third time that O’Sullivan has won back-to-back ranking events. It was he who was the last player to achieve the feat when in 2004 he won the World Championship and Grand Prix.
Harold, 41, had been aiming to win his second ranking title 15 years after his first, the Asian Open. He could have become the oldest winner of a significant title since Jimmy White captured the 2004 Players Championship, also at 41.
Stoke qualifier Dave Harold reached the final of the Northern Ireland Trophy with an upset 6-4 victory over two-times world champions John Higgins in the semi-finals on Saturday having eliminated Stephen Maguire, the defending champion, 5-2 in the quarter-finals.
O’Sullivan won £30,000 as this year’s worthy winner, while Harold claimed £15,000 as runner-up.
Harold, the world number 28, can rightly be proud of his progress to this year’s final.
He dropped out of the top 16 six years ago, but moves up to number 14 in the provisional rankings after his successful run in Belfast.
“I started well, won the first frame and then I could have won the second frame. But I let it slip after that,” he said.
“Ronnie’s a class player, he punishes you every time you make a mistake.”
“As a pure player and a entertainer, he’s the best ever.”
“Hopefully it won’t be another 14 years until my next final.”
It was Harold who won the opening frame of the match, but the ‘Rocket’ quickly found top gear and raced into a five-frame lead.
O’Sullivan had match breaks of 68, 103, 84, 76 and 64 to triumph.
“I knew it would be tough because Dave is such a hard player so I’m pleased to come through it,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s always good to win a title and it’s a great start to the season. Hopefully, I can be consistent all year.”
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