Ronnie O’Sullivan has suggested he needs a fast start in Sunday’s Players Championship Final against Shaun Murphy to aid his confidence. The Rocket is enjoying the best season of his career to date and will be chasing a fifth ranking event crown in Llandudno. He overcame Judd Trump in a thrilling semi-final encounter 6-5, though not without some fortune.
Trump was amongst the balls in the decider but a kick contributed to him going in-off with the cue ball and O’Sullivan mopped up with a match-winning 67. O’Sullivan, whose high break in the match was a 143, felt for his opponent. “It was a good match. I felt a bit sorry for Judd because I know how hard he works. He had a good chance in the last frame,” he said. “It’s tough on him but he’s a strong character and he’ll come back from it.
You have to take the rough with the smooth in sport.” Victory over Murphy would see him equal the record of five ranking titles in a single season – held jointly by Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui and Mark Selby – ahead of the World Championships next month and O’Sullivan says he only feels confident once he gets playing. “I’ll go out there in the final and try to be as quick as I can, win or lose. I’ll try to keep it free flowing,” he added. “I’m not the most confident player – I never fancy my chances until I hit my first ball. The build-up is always the worst part for me.”
O’Sullivan is 7/1 to win the final 10-5, while Murphy is 2/1 to exact revenge for his defeat in the UK Championship final in December to the five-time world champion.