O'Sullivan's epic triumph
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Snooker
Having scraped past potential expulsion by disqualification, Ronnie O'Sullivan endured a trial on the table yesterday and, like the disciplinary inquiry before it, he just survived. He is now just a match away from his first Embassy World Championship final.
A desperately exciting, anxiety-ridden thing it was, too. Trailing 10- 6 then 12-10 to John Higgins, the world No 3 kept alive his hopes of becoming the youngest champion by winning 13-12. Having got on a lot of nerves at The Crucible, it seems he is living on his own.
No matter how you feel about the 20-year-old from Chigwell - and there are plenty who are cheesed off with him - there is no doubting he is a fantastic snooker player. Most people would have succumbed to the pressure of having his life put under scrutiny after he assaulted a press officer this week, and he could easily have scurried off to hide when Higgins, the second favourite, took a commanding lead. Instead he produced breathtaking stuff.
The last two frames were epics in themselves. Twice O'Sullivan gave Higgins a clear run to the line when he rattled reds in the jaws of a corner pocket from the rest, but on each occasion the Scot blew it. The first time he had the colours on the spot, only to get out of position on the pink. The second, at 35-21 down in the deciding frame, he missed a red and O'Sullivan swooped for the kill with a break of 33.
It was a thrilling triumph, the sort to put away for mental re-inspection in years to come, but O'Sullivan looked even more miserable than Higgins. "It's just a match," he mumbled. "I'm more pleased for the people around me who stuck by me this week. I can't thank them enough. It's difficult to explain how I feel. It's been a hard couple of days."
Asked if he had apologised in person to Michael Ganley, the official he assaulted on Sunday, O'Sullivan, who received a suspended two-year ban and a pounds 20,000 fine for the offence, replied: "I'm going to do it the next time I see him. I have been under a lot of mental pressure. It's been tough."
While O'Sullivan has had his path to the semi-finals paved with headlines, Nigel Bond reached the last four in his usual manner: quiet, almost apologetic. He lets his snooker do his talking and eloquent it was yesterday, dispatching Dave Harold 13-7. He now faces the reigning champion Stephen Hendry, a 13-5 winner over Darren Morgan.
EMBASSY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (Sheffield) Quarter-finals: N Bond (Eng) bt D Harold (Eng) 13-7; R O'Sullivan (Eng) bt J Higgins (Sco) 13-12; S Hendry (Sco) bt D Morgan (Wal) 13-5.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments