Ronnie O’Sullivan has won this year’s BetVictor Welsh Open after beating Australia’s Neil Robertson 9-5.
It is a fourth Welsh Open title for ‘The Rocket’ who has now won 28 ranking titles – the same number as John Higgins and Steve Davis, with only Stephen Hendry ahead on 36 titles.
Slow start for Ronnie
It was a slow start for the 40-year-old who found himself 5-2 down after breaks of 78 and 76 from the world number three along the way.
Crucially, O’Sullivan then won the last frame of the first session to trail 5-3.
Six on the bounce
‘The Rocket’ lived up to his nickname and came flying out of the traps in the evening session with Robertson failing to win a frame. O’Sullivan wrapped up the match in convincing fashion, with an impressive break of 141 to see out a 9-5 win.
Not ‘The Rocket’s’ best match
Full of praise in his post-match comments, O'Sullivan described the blitz that Robertson put him under as being "steam-rolled", suggesting that the Aussie kept him "tight", while playing "hard match snooker".
Despite winning the match 'The Rocket' believes he only really started to play his best "towards the end", implying that he never properly "got going" at first.
Even though he captured a fourth Welsh title and has the prospect of more ranking titles on the horizon if he wants them, O’Sullivan insists he is interested in only "enjoying the game" and says "the record books don't bother [me]".
O’Sullivan’s success in Cardiff means he is eligble to play in the World Grand Prix in Llandudno next month if he chooses to do so, as well as picking up the £60,000 which means he moves up to fourth in the world rankings.
Robertson rues mistakes
The Australian was quick to point out his own error, suggesting that O'Sullivan "never had to pot a ball more than two feet away", and implying that in fact Robertson has made it "pretty easy" for him to get in and win the game.
Robertson was, however, full of praise, describing the five-time World Champion as a "very special player", and was quick to the praise the way O'Sullivan "constructs" his breaks, not to mention how "quickly he does it".
Praise for the fans
Robertson also hailed the support he received throughout the week as ‘"fantastic" and described the Welsh Open as a "brilliant tournament."