Rocket Blasts Through To Quarter Finals
Ronnie O'Sullivan produced a blistering display to beat Mark Williams in the best and quickest match of the 2010 Betfred.com World Championship.
For pure high speed entertainment value, not to mention the amazingly high standard, the second round clash between Ronnie O'Sullivan and a resurgent Mark Williams, was the match of the Championship so far.
To get the bare statistics out of the way, the average frame time over 23 frames was just fourteen minutes a frame. O'Sullivan averaged 14 seconds a shot, while Williams lagged fractionally on 16 seconds. If you add the two together you would have found the average shot time of Higgins and Davis.
There were 19 breaks over fifty in the match and four centuries, all of which came in an amazing closing five frames of the match, three from O'Sullivan and one from Williams.
The pair had whistled through their first session in under two hours and were level at 4-4. O'Sullivan had roared into a 4-1 lead with runs of 67, 78, 83 and 78. Williams had responded with 75, 57 and 74.
The pattern was repeated in the second session. O'Sullivan took the opener with 86. The Welshman replied with 54. Then Williams hit the front for the first time, sneaking a low scoring eleventh frame with a 35 clearance.
He went 7-5 ahead with a run of 99. O'Sullivan stole the next on the pink, but runs of 44 and 43 gave Williams an 8-6 lead.
Then came, maybe, the pivotal moment in the match. With the momentum firmly with the Welshman, he got a thundering kick in the balls and in the blink of an eye O'Sullivan smash in 72 and it was 8-8 overnight.
This afternoon's final session was snooker of the highest standard anyone could hope to produce.
O'Sullivan ran in 53 to open proceedings. Williams made 53 and 48 to level at 9-9.
Then the Rocket clicked into top gear with breaks of 104 and 75 to lead 11-9 at the final interval.
Williams chose an opportune moment to fire in his only century of the match, 115 to close to within a frame.
But all he could do after that was sit back and admire as O'Sullivan ran in 111 and 106 to close out the match.
Williams, despite his disappointment, could do little but heap praise on his opponent after the match.
"It was a fantastic match to be involved in. In my opinion there was just a couple of nudges here and there and the score could have gone my way.
"When you're playing that well, you deserve everything you get.
"I was looking to take a two frame lead last night. I was on thirty odd and got a massive kick. The two clearances he did from 8-6 to 8-8 were just brilliant.
"I don't think there's a player in the game who coud have done that. He was doing it all the time yesterday.
"Even today, when I had him in trouble and he just pulls out some crazy shot and dishes up.
"What can you do? Just sit there and say well done.
"There's nothing wrong with his long game. You can't pot every long ball.
"Everything about his game is spot on. The only person who can beat him this year is himself.
"I don't think there was any more I could have done. He just kept potting long ones, he's potted them all today and had three centuries.
"He did the same to me a couple of years ago. You've just got to take your hat off to him. He's just outstanding.
"I'd rather be ranked 40 to avoid playing Ronnie! Just keep me as far away from him as possible! Every time I play him he always plays well against me. He always plays out of his skin. All I can do is sit there and watch.
"It was a nice open game. I think it was one of the best games of the tournament so far to watch.
"It could have gone either way right to the end, and century after century, mainly from him.
"You can't do anything but hold your hands up and say all the best for the tournament.
"It's a shame the season's ending. I've just found a bit of form, got back in the Top 8. It's brilliant from where I was 3 years ago.
"I can't wait for the next tournament now. Fingers crossed Barry gets in next month and we can start off all these tournaments he's going to put on."
O'Sullivan was more relieved than ecstatic to get the match out of the way saying:
"I knew that I needed to find some sort of form. Out of sheer panic and desperation I was just trying to find a way to get the cue through, to be able to put a few balls together. I knew if I didn't I would definitely be going home.
"I wouldn't say it was really flowing. I still had to be giving every shot a bit of thought and when you're flowing you don't really tend to think. Everything just kind of happens.
"I was playing in a big match and needed to deal with a big match situation. I just had to click into a bit of a gear and just try to stay concentrated all the time.
"The amount of times I played a couple of good matches here and seemed to be playing well but then another time my game just deteriorated. I'm not getting to upbeat about it.
"It was nice to get through that game and nice to come through against a good quality player. I've played too many up and down games over the years to get too excited.
"I didn't play well in any of the world titles I won. I played a couple of finals when I was just relieved to get over the line to be honest. In spells I felt eveything was going along nicely but then in a couple of those finals I couldn't wait for it to be over, feeling that much pressure out there.
"I've managed to win most of my tournament not playing well. I know I can do it, but it would be a lot easier on the nerves to find a bit of form and be applying pressure to your opponents. It makes your job a bit easier.
"To be fair I think the last 3 or 4 years I've played better than in the previous 12 so it's not all doom and gloom.
"I'm trying to enjoy the tournament. It's a big tournament, we all want to do well. there's a lot of nerves out there and it's difficult to enjoy because of the importance of it.
"There's no point in me getting carried away. Over the years I've thrown two or three titles away. I can't afford to let myself get confident. I just have to hope and pray that I get a bit lucky and hope that at the right time I find a bit of form and kind of craft my way around.
"I need a bit of luck I think. I never underestimate my own ability. When I play alright I fancy my chances against whoever. When I bring my A game.
"A lot of people say how good your bad game is but I say it's how good your A game is. I want to play my A game against top players when they're playing theirs.
"I have spells when I lose 6 frames out of 7 and you can't afford to do that at the world champs.
"If I can feel comfortable out there and feel like I can see the shot then I'm not bothered who I play.
"There's times, even in practice when I can't even play, I'm that bad. I'm just diabolical in practice I just cannot pot a ball.
"I come to a match and it's desparation not to make myself look silly that I just find something. It's just hard work sometimes.
"I'm surprised I've won three world titles with my type of game. You can't afford to have quiet spells like I did against Mark and against Wenbo. You just can't afford to do it. I get away with it sometimes if I'm able to find some form for long enough.
"But against top quality opponents like Higgins, Ding, Williams, the consistent players, then I'm really going to struggle.
"I think Mark [Selby] is a great player. He's got a great touch, he scores very well and I can't afford to be waiting for something to click. If you have cold spells, this is a tough place to come. If you go far behind, the pressure mounts.
"My game isn't suited to the 17 day marathon with the ups and down. I'm okay in 9 and 11 frame matches, but get me over the longer ones and I can be found wanting."
