Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker as it happened - Ronnie O'Sullivan defeats Luca Brecel 5-2 in inaugural final
Updated 06/03/2024 at 22:25 GMT
It's showtime at the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. The day began with Luca Brecel and Mark Allen in a semi-final where the Belgian won 4-2, Ronnie O'Sullivan beat Judd Trump 4-1. The two winners met in the final and after they were locked together at 2-2 at the interval, O'Sullivan powered ahead with two centuries en route to victory.
‘Brilliance’ from O’Sullivan as Rocket makes yet another century in Saudi Arabia
That's all for the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker
Thanks for following the competition with us this week.
Golden Ball money to double to $1 million next year
His excellency Turki Al-Sheikh announced the golden ball prize will double in the next competition.
O'Sullivan: Like we were in some sort of rave
"The music was going in between the frames, it was like we were in some sort of rave - going 25 years back when I was young," O'Sullivan said on Eurosport.
"It feels like a really nice festival."
O'Sullivan quipped he will look to take the Golden Ball prize next year, in addition to the $250,000 prize money for winning the tournament.
"I'll get [the golden ball] next year - you don't want to get it all at once," O'Sullivan joked.
"I thought I'd win the tournament this year and get the golden ball next year."
O'Sullivan wins the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker, beating Luca Brecel 5-2 in the final.
Six centuries from the 13 frames he has won in the tournament. Quite exceptional. Breaks of 121 and 124 after the interval here.
Brecel 2-4 O'Sullivan (0-73*)
O'Sullivan has the match won and is trying to top things off with his sixth century of the tournament.
Brecel 2-4 O'Sullivan (0-4*)
A bit of a desperate crash into the pack trying to get an unlikely plant and O'Sullivan now has the balls all spread and he might now take the frame and match.
Brecel 2-4 O'Sullivan (0-3)
He could not extend the break but leaves Brecel snookered behind the yellow.
Brecel 2-4 O'Sullivan (0-1*)
O'Sullivan sinks a fantastic long pot. Could this be the beginning of the end?
Brecel 2-4 O'Sullivan
He misses the next blue, but Brecel opts not to play on needing three snookers. O'Sullivan needs just one more frame to win.
Brecel 2-3 O'Sullivan (0-69)
O'Sullivan has sealed the frame now. It has been an exceptional break of 40 so far.
Brecel 2-3 O'Sullivan (0-30*)
O'Sullivan misses a red into the bottom right pocket, but Brecel also fails to sink a ball home with the rest, leaving a long pot which O'Sullivan nails.
Brecel 2-3 O'Sullivan (0-1*)
A fine pot from O'Sullivan from the bottom cushion into left middle. He extends his run of points without repy to 216.
Brecel 2-3 O'Sullivan
A break of 121 gives O'Sullivan the frame, he missed the pink to fall short of the total clearance.
Brecel 2-2 O'Sullivan (0-72*)
O'Sullivan has claimed the frame now. Can he make it into a ton?
Brecel 2-2 O'Sullivan (0-5*)
O'Sullivan, for the first time in the match, pots the first ball in a frame.
Brecel 2-2 O'Sullivan
Brecel gets the game back underway.
Brecel's needlessly overhit, but wonderful, blue in frame two...
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‘A lovely player to watch still’ – Brecel finishes off frame with thundering pot
Brecel 2-2 O'Sullivan
A break of 94 later and the pair are all-square at the interval.
Brecel 2-1 O'Sullivan (29-0)
Brecel misses a black, while opening up the reds handing a great chance to O'Sullivan.
Brecel 2-1 O'Sullivan (*13-0)
Brecel back at the table now after another loose O'Sullivan safety. The Rocket a different player to last night. Maybe its not late enough.
Brecel 2-1 O'Sullivan (5-0)
It has been a night of flukes. Brecel flukes a green and then a red as well. Neither that helpful and he then misses the yellow in the right middle but didn't leave anything on.
Brecel 2-1 O'Sullivan
Just the 81, but more than enough. Brecel has the lead now.
Brecel 1-1 O'Sullivan (*74-0)
He has won the frame now. Can he make a ton?
Brecel 1-1 O'Sullivan (*30-0)
Now the golden ball is gone. Brecel not risking frame for the chance of glory. It has only been Mark Williams who has done so really.
Brecel 1-1 O'Sullivan (*24-0)
Brecel again the first at the table and he does look like he has his eye in. The golden ball is still on the table...
Brecel 1-1 O'Sullivan
Brecel brings it level. He ran out of position on the blue and then drilled home into the yellow pocket from the bottom cushion.
Brecel 0-1 O'Sullivan (*49-3)
O'Sullivan makes a hash of his safety shot and now Breel has a chance to take the frame.
Brecel 0-1 O'Sullivan (48-1*)
He runs out of position just short of a fifty, then his safety leaves a thin pot into the middle which O'Sullivan rockets in.
Brecel 0-1 O'Sullivan (*6-0)
Brecel again first on the table, can he make it pay this time?
Brecel 0-1 O'Sullivan
He doesn't quite get a century, but 95 will do just fine thank you very much. O'Sullivan with the first blow.
Brecel 0-0 O'Sullivan (3-40*)
A poor safety from Brecel has let O'Sullivan back in.
Brecel 0-0 O'Sullivan (3-23*)
O'Sullivan falls out of position and has to play a safety.
Brecel 0-0 O'Sullivan (3-1)
Just as I say that...the Belgian misses an easy red with the break and now O'Sullivan is on the table.
Brecel 0-0 O'Sullivan (3-0)
Brecel first on the board with a great long pot and is in good position to build a break.
Brecel 0-0 O'Sullivan (0-0)
Brecel breaks off to get us underway.
We are ready to go...
O'Sullivan comes into Train's Drops of Jupiter, I'm less familiar with Brecel's entrance music.
Our coverage is underway....
The players will enter the arena shortly.
Today's standard not up to yesterday's excellence - so far
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump is a game we all love to watch but today's semi-final fell a little flat.
Just ask the men involved, here's the Rocket's take....
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'Judd was the worst I’ve ever seen him’ – O’Sullivan says he ‘dragged’ Trump ‘down to his level’
And Trump agreed with him...
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'I felt terrible' - Trump slams performance as 'one of the worst in a long time'
Welcome to our coverage of the Riyadh Season World Masters Final
The final between the last two World Championship winners Luca Brecel and Ronnie O'Sullivan is scheduled to begin at 2000.
Trump reflects
"I didn’t play very well; I felt terrible, I felt shaky. It’s one of the worst performances I’ve had in a long time; I didn’t feel good at all," the Ace said.
"Even when he was leaving me chances, I knew I was going to miss; it wasn’t a good feeling out there. It’s been a good season so far, but that’s probably the worst I’ve felt for a while.
"In the first game, I didn’t feel good either. I felt very shaky. It’s happened a few times when I’ve had good seasons. Maybe I put a little bit too much pressure on myself rather than just go out, relax and play like I have done throughout the season.
"I had loads of chances, I just didn’t take them. You’ve got to try not to let games like that affect you; it’s going to happen. Obviously, you don’t want to perform like that. I just knew I wasn’t there today. I should have gone two-all but, in the end, he deserved the win."
The Rocket reacts
"It wasn’t great," he tells Eurosport. "I think Judd was probably the worst I’ve even seen him play. I dragged him down to my level.
"I played really well last night and had expectations coming here thinking I could put two matches together playing well, but that’s put that out of the window!
"I don’t get excited by winning tournaments anymore, I just want to play half-decent, enjoy the game and be competing. When you’re not playing well, you lose a bit of belief in yourself and your confidence can go. I just try to still play attacking, aggressive snooker, even though I’m not playing great, because that’s the only way you can win really.
"Even if you’re 3-1 up – you can be 8-1 up against Judd in a first to nine – he can come out and start smashing them in off the lampshades. That’s the way Judd plays. There’s a lot of drama when you play Judd because he gets the white ball moving around; he plays a different game to pretty much everybody. You have to just stick to your basics and try to be clinical. You know you’re going to get your chances, but if you don’t take them, he usually just puts you away."
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'What are we going to see next?!’ – Another twist as O’Sullivan gets fluke on green
Result: O'Sullivan 4-1 Trump
A further run of 36 is enough to get O'Sullivan over the line and seal a commanding win over Trump.
He will play Luca Brecel in the final later on.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Trump (49-1)
O'Sullivan breaks down on 45, but he is soon back at the table after Trump misses a black off its spot.
You would expect him to get the job done from here.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Trump (15-0)
Knocking in a long red and neatly splitting the pack not long after, the Rocket has a great chance to seal frame and match here.
O'Sullivan 3-1 Trump
Trump leaves O'Sullivan a tempting long blue, which he knocks in before cutting in the pink to the left corner with the extended rest.
That moves him within a frame of a place in the final.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Trump (51-49)
Trump flukes the brown, but then misses the blue. Thankfully for him, it runs safe.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Trump (48-32)
The Rocket leads by 16 points with the last red remaining.
He has a chance to clear after sinking the penultimate red, but then undercuts the pink to the left corner.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Trump (8-32)
With both players struggle to produce their best, Trump plays a loose safety shot and presents an opportunity for O'Sullivan to close the gap at the very least.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Trump (0-19)
The Ace takes an early lead in the fourth frame, though the balls are not too ideally positioned for either player here.
O'Sullivan 2-1 Trump
Trump pots the opening red in frame three, but misses a brown to the left centre.
In the blink of an eye, O'Sullivan punishes him with a swift 123 to regain the lead.
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‘Brilliance’ from O’Sullivan as Rocket makes yet another century in Saudi Arabia
O'Sullivan 1-1 Trump
The Ace clears from the green to take the second frame and level this contest.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Trump (37-50)
The Rocket cuts a brilliant long red into the top-right corner, but then misses a relatively straightforward blue to the right centre.
We are down to the colours. Who will prevail in this scrappy second frame?
O'Sullivan 1-0 Trump (36-19)
O'Sullivan has the first chance, but runs out of position on 36.
Trump has closed the gap, but both players are now involved in a safety battle.
O'Sullivan 1-0 Trump
That was more like it from the Rocket, who clears with 64 to snatch the opening frame on the black.
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‘Like shelling peas’ – Ominous signs for Trump as O’Sullivan makes fine clearance in first frame
O'Sullivan 0-0 Trump (14-58)
So clinical last night, O'Sullivan has struggled to settle into his rhythm so far with Trump taking advantage to build a 58-8 lead.
However, the Rocket has a chance to counter here.
The boys are on the baize
The second semi-final is under way in Riyadh. We are really looking forward to this one.
Head to head
We can expect a tightly fought encounter between two players who have both already captured four trophies this season.
Although, the recent head-to-head record arguably shifts the contest in favour of O'Sullivan, who has prevailed in each of the last four meetings.
O'Sullivan v Trump
The top two players in the world endured contrasting victories in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
While Trump recovered from 2-0 and 3-2 down to battle past Shaun Murphy, O'Sullivan hit breaks of 135, 129, 102 and 82 during a resounding 4-0 rout of John Higgins, who he outscored by 489 points to four.
Next up
Who will Brecel play in the final later this evening?
Well, we will find out shortly as Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump go head to head in a blockbuster clash.
Stay tuned...
Brecel reaction
"I played good, I felt good," he tells Eurosport's Michael Bridge. "Every week, I seem to play a little bit better. Wales [where he reached the quarter-finals] was the first step. I now feel very good about myself.
"Mark is so tough to beat. Every frame, he plays the same way – whether he’s down or he’s up. Not many players are like that, so it’s very difficult to play against."
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‘Every week I seem to play a little bit better’ – Brecel ‘feeling good’ as World Championship nears
Result: Brecel 4-2 Allen
A break of 82 seals the deal for the world champion, who comes through a high-quality contest to book his place in the final.
Brecel 3-2 Allen (35-1)
A couple of solid long pots have got Brecel in.
The Bullet has a great opportunity to close out frame and match here.
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‘What a pot!’ – Brecel thumps home sensational long red
Brecel 3-2 Allen
A marvellous 132 total clearance makes it three centuries in as many frames.
More importantly for Allen, it keeps his hopes alive.
Brecel 3-1 Allen (0-63)
Allen has hit back well again. Is this the start of another fightback?
Remember, he trailed 3-1 against Mark Selby in the quarter-finals.
Brecel 3-1 Allen
A wonderful 125 clearance moves the world champion to the brink of a place in the final.
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Brecel hits century to give ‘flashbacks of last May’
Brecel 2-1 Allen (27-10)
Despite knocking in the pink while splitting the back, Brecel is back at the table after Allen misses a red to the top-left corner.
He floats a lovely mid-range red to the bottom-left corner to get nicely in the balls.
Brecel 2-1 Allen
The Pistol closes out the frame with a superb 121 clearance to halve the deficit.
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Allen lands 47th century of campaign as he claims ‘important frame’
Brecel 2-0 Allen (0-47)
This is a good response from Allen, who is on 46 and counting.
You would expect him to see out the frame from here.
Brecel 2-0 Allen (0-1)
There was a slight delay to the restart of this match with Allen leaving the arena, reportedly due to a nosebleed.
It does not appear to have affected the Pistol too much, however, as he crunches in a brilliant opening red.
Brecel 2-0 Allen
Winning the lengthy safety battle, Brecel knocks in a brilliant yellow and clears to the pink to double his lead.
Brecel 1-0 Allen (71-58)
Brecel concedes 10 points in penalty fouls from a couple of snookers.
That closes the gap and he would now need yellow, green and brown to seal the frame.
Brecel 1-0 Allen (71-48)
A nice break of 71 gives the Belgian a 23-point lead with just the colours remaining.
The players are now engaged in a safety battle on the yellow. Who will twitch first?
Brecel 1-0 Allen (16-48)
Allen is unfortunate to rattle a long red in the jaws of the left corner, leaving his opponent with the opportunity to counter.
Brecel 1-0 Allen (0-48)
The Pistol gets to 48 with six reds followed by blacks. However, his positional shot from the sixth black does not go to plan.
Allen is left with the prospect of a tricky pot or straightforward safety. With a heavy heart, he opts for the latter.
Brecel 1-0 Allen (0-32)
Four reds and four blacks...
Brecel 1-0 Allen
Brecel gets to 72 and that is more than enough for him to draw first blood in this contest.
Brecel 0-0 Allen (33-6)
The world champion has a decent opportunity to win the opening frame here. He is on a break of 33 and counting.
Brecel 0-0 Allen (0-6)
There will be no 167 in this opening frame with the referee removing the golden ball after Allen plays the blue from the opening red.
Will we see this one today? With the top four seeds still standing, there is every chance.
Brecel 0-0 Allen (0-0)
Referee Tatiana Woollaston flips the coin. Brecel wins the toss and elects to break. This should be a brilliant first semi-final.
Here they come
The players are introduced into the arena and we are almost ready to go here.
Head to head
This will be their ninth meeting in professional competition, with Allen prevailing in five of the eight previous encounters.
Although, this is their first showdown outside the UK since the 2015 Shanghai Masters, when the Pistol was a 5-3 winner in the last 32.
Brecel v Allen
Our first semi-final pits the world champion against the world number three.
Brecel was a commanding 4-1 winner over Ali Carter on Tuesday, while Allen claimed a dramatic 4-3 victory over Mark Selby on the final black.
Good afternoon
Hello everyone and welcome to live coverage of day three at the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters.
It is the final day of action at the Global Theatre in Boulevard City, where the two semi-finals will be played this afternoon before the final takes centre stage this event.
First up, reigning world champion Luca Brecel takes on Mark Allen, before another mouth-watering showdown sees Ronnie O'Sullivan lock horns with Judd Trump.
O'Sullivan close to best after 'two years of filth', calls out 'midnight' Selby
Ronnie O'Sullivan admits he is feeling close to his best again after a convincing whitewash victory over John Higgins at the Riyadh Season World Masters.
O'Sullivan completed a 4-0 win in a match which did not start until 01:45 in the Saudi Arabian capital, and now faces a tantalising semi-final clash against Judd Trump.
"I felt really comfortable over the shot," O'Sullivan said on Eurosport.
"It's the first time in a while. I've felt OK the last few weeks in practice. Two years of absolute filth and I'm starting to feel alright again. It's been a long time.
"That's the worst part about my job, having to play. Getting away, going to the gym, eating good food, chilling out, watching Netflix. When you're playing OK, it's alright. When you're playing absolute filth, you're like, 'oh no' - it's embarrassing sometimes.
"I don't drink, I don't go out partying so this is a great place for me, this kind of place. In the UK, it's all pubs and drinking."
All of Tuesday’s matches ran late due to the lengthy first contest between Mark Selby and Mark Allen, with the former claiming a dramatic 4-3 win.
"I call him Midnight Selby now because all his games go past midnight," O'Sullivan joked.
"It's a nightmare. You don't want to be following Mark because you go into the next day.
"It's the top players playing against each other, so you're always going to get good games, unless it's Mark and Mark today.
"It was a bit of a drag, wasn't it? Even Mark Allen said after: 'That was tough!'"
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