Ronnie O’Sullivan is into the World Grand Prix final (Picture: Getty Images)
Ronnie O’Sullivan produced one of the best displays of snooker you will ever see as he hammered Ding Junhui 6-1 in the World Grand Prix semi-finals, finally managing to enjoy one of his own performances.
The Rocket made breaks of 135, 128, 79, 90, 128 and 124 in a near-perfect outing, which saw Ding make an 85 to win his one and only frame.
The 48-year-old is into the final where he will meet Judd Trump after, what Stephen Hendry described on commentary as ‘right up there with his best ever performances.’
O’Sullivan had been downbeat about his own game on his run to the semi-finals, saying after his last 16 win over Zhou Yuelong: ‘I’ve got to really consider whether I can continue feeling how I’m feeling out there. I just don’t get any enjoyment from the way I’m hitting the ball.
‘It’s just hard work, and I haven’t a clue where the balls are going. It is just guesswork and it is a struggle.’
However, after mauling Ding on Saturday night, he told ITV: ‘I felt alright tonight. I felt comfortable, it was just tidy. Every shot felt in control. I wasn’t bothered about big breaks, I felt that I could get the ball to go where I wanted it to most times.’
Asked if he derived some pleasure from the performance, he said: ‘Yeah I did! I derived more from actually feeling good over the shot. I’m not bothered about the breaks or winning the match. It’s more that if I was given a chance I felt like I could make something. The last two years I felt like I’d struggle to make 20.
‘Tonight I felt relaxed and confident because I felt like if I got a chance I might do something.
O’Sullivan looked completely unstoppable on Saturday night (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I’m up for every match I play. I never treat anyone differently, I just play the game, play the table, play the balls, try and play the right shot all the time. Big occasion, semi-finals, playing Ding, legend of a player. I knew I had to play well to win.’
On whether it was the best session of snooker he has ever produced, O’Sullivan said: ‘I’ve played a few sessions where I’ve played good stuff, scored well, good safety. It was up there, I suppose, yeah.’
The Rocket was certainly hugely boosted by his own performance, with his negative reactions to his own game regularly down to how he felt he played rather than the result.
Trying to explain his previous comments he said: ‘It’s hard because when I’ve said what I’ve said this week, that I’m not bothered if I win or lose…people have paid good money to come and watch.
‘When I say that, I mean I’m struggling with myself. Sometimes it’s hard to keep that stamina and focus to want to win. It gets frustrating and tiring.
‘No matter what I say and what I feel I always put on a professional display mentally. Whether I play well or not is out of my control. I don’t want people to think I’m not trying out there, I am, I’m trying my hardest, but it’s tough when the game is coming difficult to you. But tonight it was nice, the crowd enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, that’s what keeps you coming back playing, when you put in good performances.’
O’Sullivan’s win sets up a blockbuster final with Judd Trump, as the Rocket looks to continue an immense run of results which has seen him win the UK Championship last month and Masters just last week. The Ace has claimed three ranking titles already this season and wanted to face O’Sullivan with a fourth on the line.
Judd Trump will need to produce his best stuff to handle the Rocket (Picture: Getty Images)
After his semi-final win over Cao Yupeng on Friday, Trump said: ‘Obviously he’s got a tough game against Ding, but I’d rather take the challenge of Ronnie.
‘He’s been pretty much invincible the last few tournaments. They’re the kind of games I live for.’
The world number one said: ‘Yeah, looking forward to it. Best of 19, playing Judd who’s been one of the players of the season, he’s playing fantastically well. I need to play somewhere like that to have a chance like winning.
‘It’ll be nice if I can feel comfortable over the shot then I’ll enjoy the match no matter what happens.’
The pair play over two sessions on Sunday at 1pm and 7pm, the third time on the spin they have met in a final after O’Sullivan won the World Championship and Champion of Champions showpieces against Trump in 2022.
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‘The crowd enjoyed it, I enjoyed it, that’s what keeps you coming back playing.’