Ronnie O'Sullivan proves he's the 'best we've ever seen' after record-extending UK Championship success - Jimmy White
Published 04/12/2023 at 00:05 GMT
Was it ever in doubt? Ronnie O'Sullivan is the UK Championship winner for a record-extending eighth time, a feat that Jimmy White believes underlines his status as the "best we've ever seen". The Rocket, who is 48 on Tuesday, overcame Ding Junghui 10-7, becoming the youngest and oldest winner of the prestigious tournament. Neal Foulds reflected on his "incredible career and legacy".
'He's the best we've ever seen' - White hails O'Sullivan after UK Championship glory
Ronnie O'Sullivan has once again proved that he's the "best we've ever seen" in snooker, said the legendary Jimmy White.
Just two days shy of his 48th birthday, The Rocket created another piece of history by claiming the UK Championship for a record-extending eighth time with a 10-7 win over Ding Junhui.
The fans at the Barbican Centre in York were treated to some vintage O'Sullivan, as he made a sensational seven-minute century before securing the final three frames to claim the trophy in style.
Victory comes 30 years after he stunned the snooker world when, as a 17-year-old, he stunned Stephen Hendry to take his first title in York. He is now the youngest and oldest winner of the UK Championship.
Reflecting on the achievement in the Eurosport studio, White said: "He’s such a great champion, an unbelievable snooker player – the best we’ve ever seen.
"In this tournament he was 5-4 down against Zhou Yuelong, won 6-5. He was also 2-0 down against Anthony McGill and produced. Against Hossein [Vafaei] he was like the player of the tournament, he just took him apart. And then all of a sudden Ding hits back 7-7, but he goes for the whip and produces it again.
"He’s just unbelievable, incredible."
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Neal Foulds was equally impressed, saying: "It’s an incredible career, a great legacy. That little burst at the end was what he needed to do because he was searching all week for his best form. But at 7-7, in the final, when Ding made a century against him, that’s when he found his best form.
"He found the form we’ve seen over those three decades. He found it and that’s what champions do. He won a frame in about seven minutes to go 8-7 up. All of these things and the style that he does it, has never really diminished over the years."
However, O'Sullivan - ever the perfectionist - was rather more subdued about his most recent success.
"It wasn’t great but it was alright. I stuck in there, focused, used my head tonight. I thought I had to at least make Ding earn it if he’s going to beat me," he said.
O'Sullivan after UK Championship glory: 'I played snooker like Ballesteros played golf'
"I felt a bit of sabotage coming in this afternoon, just got a bit frustrated. But it’s been like that all week really.
"I felt I played snooker like Seve Ballesteros played golf; I’m in and out of trees, all over the gaff. It catches up with you after a while, it’s quite draining."
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