Ronnie O’Sullivan wins 2018 Champion of Champions

Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the 2018 Champion of Champions, beating Kyren Wilson 10-9 in a close-fought final.

It is the third time that O’Sullivan has captured the title, having previously won in both 2013 and 2014, and it continues his form of at least reaching the final every time he enters the tournament. The win also means that O’Sullivan has won 13 of the 14 matches he has played so far this season, with his only defeat in the semi-finals of the English Open to Mark Davis.

The battle came down to the wire as both players had their chances to seize the match. But, in a match in which both men pulled out some phenomenal snooker to take advantage, only one person could win.

Wilson got the match underway with a 50, but then O’Sullivan reeled off the next four frames – with breaks of 61, 94, 107 and 86 to go 4-1 in front. A scrappy frame extended O’Sullivan’s lead to five, but then Wilson battled back, with clearances of 42 and 86. In the final frame, the five-time world champion made a match-high break of 131 to close the session in style, heading into the evening with a 6-3 lead.

Frames 10 and 11 went the way of Wilson, but then O’Sullivan responded with a 94 in frame 12 and a dominant performance in frame 13 to lead 8-5 at the interval. Wilson needed to produce some good snooker under pressure – and he did. He seized the next four frames, making breaks of 56, 56, 65 and his only century of 104 to go 9-8 in front, and one frame from victory.

Suddenly, the match was at Wilson’s mercy. He was making a 61, and a pot away from the title, before overcutting a tough red. O’Sullivan replied with 36 before running out of position – he attempted a double, which he missed, but he was fortunate to snooker Wilson. He escaped, but he left a red. From that opportunity, he set up a decider, and it was a tense one. Both players had chances – Wilson potted a red and black at the same time, while leaving a red over the pocket, while O’Sullivan accidentally fouled when his waistcoat touched a ball. Wilson tried a double of his own – it didn’t work, and from there, O’Sullivan made a 110 and won the title.

After the match, O’Sullivan said: “We didn’t play great. I know he can play better and I know I can play better.

“For me, I am just pleased to be competing. If I win, I win, and if I don’t, I don’t. It’s just nice to be playing. I was lucky. He should’ve won it. I got away with that double.

“I wasn’t playing with enough fluency to dominate. I wasn’t at my best but you have to compete and do your best and give whatever there is to give on the day and that is what I did.

“Kyren will be a World Champion for sure because he has got bottle, he has the right attitude, he loves the game and he is dedicated.”

Wilson said: “It’s hard. He was my hero growing up. I just wanted to make a bit of a fight of it and it was a bit of sickener to lose like that.

“At the interval, I just thought I want to make a fight of it and have a bit of a close match.”