Rocket roars to title
Ronnie O'Sullivan reclaimed the Premier League Snooker title with a crushing 7-1 victory over Shaun Murphy in Norfolk.
Last Updated: 28/11/10 11:15pm
Ronnie O'Sullivan reclaimed the Premier League Snooker title with a crushing 7-1 victory over Shaun Murphy, avenging his loss to the same player in last year's final.
Murphy never recovered after O'Sullivan made a brilliant start in Norfolk and by the time he had got a frame on the board, the match was already well beyond him.
O'Sullivan, who lost to Murphy in the 2009 final but had been the champion for five straight years before that, was in fine form but benefitted from several misses from his opponent.
"I was just pleased to be able to play well tonight and get amongst the balls and make a few breaks," O'Sullivan told Sky Sports after the match.
He added of the upcoming UK Championship: "It's nice to be going in there with some confidence, having won a tournament. I've beaten some good players in this tournament.
"The UK is a different story though, this has got a shot clock on it. To win the UK, the Masters or the Worlds, it's a different ball game altogether."
Murphy said: "I came here playing well, been playing well in the EPTC events, played well last night (but) it just didn't happen. But we all have bad days and Ronnie deserved the title, he's played the best throughout the tournament. On the night, the best man won."
Flying start
O'Sullivan got off to a flying start and comfortably secured the first frame of the match with a break of 74 that was to be a sign of things to come.
The three-time world champion was even more impressive in the second, racking up a break of 123 to move into an ominous two-frame lead.
Murphy finally got some time at the table in the third frame but rattled a routine red in the jaws of the pocket, leaving O'Sullivan to continue his perfect start with a break of 59.
The defending champion desperately needed to get off the mark in the fourth frame but fluffed another two routine reds and his opponent capitalised to make it 4-0.
And that advantage was extended to five in the next frame as Murphy pocketed the cue ball after being well set at the table and seemingly heading for a sizeable break.
Murphy finally got on the board in the sixth frame as it was this time O'Sullivan who missed a simple yellow in the opening stages and the 2005 world champion came through after a tight battle.
O'Sullivan again missed an easy ball - this time a blue on its spot - in the next frame but came back to the table and moved to the brink of victory with a break of 68.
He then seemed to be sailing towards the win in the next frame but ran out of position when his break was on 51. However, the deficit was too much for Murphy to overturn and O'Sullivan eventually sealed the victory with a spectacular long-range red.