O'sullivan wins back to back NI trophy

patrickc

http://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2008/0831/osullivan.html
Ronnie O'Sullivan was the toast of Belfast tonight as he was crowned Northern Ireland Trophy champion.

The world champion and number one beat Stoke's Dave Harold 9-3 at the Waterfront Hall.

It was O'Sullivan' s 21st ranking title in a glittering career and one which saw him rewrite the record books - the crowd favourite became the first player for four years to win back-to-back ranking titles.

It was he who was the last player to achieve the feat when in 2004 he won the World Championship and Grand Prix.

Harold, the world number 28, can rightly be proud of his progress to this year's final, but he was well beaten by the tournament favourite.

O'Sullivan won £30,000 as this year's worthy winner, while Harold claimed £15,000 as runner-up.

It was always going to be difficult for Harold to fight back having trailed 6-1 after the afternoon session.

But the 41-year-old, whose last ranking title came 15 years ago when he won the 1993 Asian Open, gave a spirited display and even had the chance of a memorable maximum 147 break.

However, the Trent Vale player missed a pot on a black whilst on a break of 81 and his hopes of claiming the high-break prize disappeared.

It was Harold who won the opening frame of the match, but O'Sullivan quickly found top gear and raced into a five-frame lead.

And although Harold rallied in the concluding evening session, it was the 'Rocket' who won the first ranking event of the new season.

O'Sullivan had match breaks of 68, 103, 84, 76 and 64 to triumph.

Dave147

Well done Ronnie, always a good start to the season.. When his head is in it there's no stopping him.