Snooker: O'Sullivan books place in World Championship final
Ronnie O'Sullivan cruised to a 17-11 victory over Judd Trump in the semi-finals on Saturday.
SHEFFIELD (AFP) - Ronnie O Sullivan booked his place in the World Championship final for the fifth time as the defending champion cruised to a 17-11 victory over Judd Trump in the semi-finals on Saturday.
O Sullivan will take on Ricky Walden or Barry Hawkins in the final after the latest in a long line of dominant displays at Sheffield s Crucible Theatre.
The four-time champion held a 14-10 overnight lead and he never looked likely to surrender that advantage as he clinched the three frames needed to progress to the final.
After almost a year out of snooker reaching another Crucible final must ranks among O Sullivan s finest achievements.
But the English star has already claimed this will be his last appearance at the World Championship due to a lack of passion for the game and that would be a relief to his rivals, who have once again failed to step up to his level.
Trump was 50-39 ahead in the opening frame of the session but missed a red to a corner pocket and O Sullivan rifled in a 41 break.
O Sullivan pinched the next after winning a tactical battle and finishing off with a crowd-pleasing 33.
Trump crashed in a 77 break to give himself the slightest hope, but the reprieve was all too brief as O Sullivan creamed off breaks of 31 and 33 in the next frame to clinch a showdown with either Walden or Hawkins, who are tied at 12-12 in their semi-final.
