Tour Championship 2024 final as it happened - Mark Williams won seven straight frames to defeat Ronnie O'Sullivan.
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Updated 07/04/2024 at 21:02 GMT
Welcome back to Eurosport's live coverage of the 2024 Tour Championship. It was a memorable clash between Class of 92 legends and after Mark Williams won three of the first four frames, Ronnie O'Sullivan hit back to win the four following the afternoon interval to take a 5-3 lead into the evening session. Incredibly, Williams then won seven straight frames in the evening to win the title.
'He thought he'd thrown it away' - Watch dramatic ending to O'Sullivan-Vafaei classic
THANKS FOR FOLLOWING THE ACTION WITH US THIS WEEK...
The small matter of the world championship starts tomorrow and you can follow it with us here of course.
WILLIAMS: I'M BETTER ALL ROUND THAN EVER
"I can't believe I won," Williams said.
"Who knows the world championship is around the corner, he's the man to beat and I'll try my best.
"I think I'm better all round than I've ever been. I've beat Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Ronnie O'Sullivan the best three players in the world.
O'SULLIVAN PAYS TRIBUTE TO WILLIAMS
This is O'Sullivan's first final loss in over two years.
"I think he's better now than he's ever been," O'Sullivan said.
"I think he's been the best player for the last five years.
WILLIAMS BEATS O'SULLIVAN 10-5
He pots the yellow and then O'Sullivan concedes, so Williams wins the Tour Championship!
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (19-48)
What drama! Williams misses an easy pot and then O'Sullivan fails to pot the last red...and Williams doubles it home. With the colours left O'Sullivan needs a snooker.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (13-47*)
O'Sullivan tries to roll a red along the pocket but is way too soft and now Williams has the opportunity to win.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (1-40)
A miss from Williams gave O'Sullivan an easy chance but he was not even close...but then Williams misses as well.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (1-40)
Williams pots a good red but can't get on a colour.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (1-39)
O'Sullivan flukes a red but then is equally unfortunate when he pots the yellow and opens the reds but one of the reds goes in. No red left on for Williams though.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (0-35)
Williams tries a cannon to bring the black into play but it ends with him running out of position.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS (0-10*)
Williams pots a long red and he has a chance to win the title in this visit.
O'SULLIVAN 5-9 WILLIAMS
No one, not even Williams himself, can have thought this a possibility when the session resumed.
O'SULLIVAN 5-8 WILLIAMS (0-78*)
The frame is sealed and Williams is just a frame away from victory now. What a turnaround!
O'SULLIVAN 5-8 WILLIAMS (0-8*)
A fine deadweight long red has Williams set up for another break.
O'SULLIVAN 5-8 WILLIAMS (0-0)
O'Sullivan misses a red by a long way and is fortunate not to leave a pot on.
O'SULLIVAN 5-8 WILLIAMS
The Welshman now two frames away from victory after another superb break, this one worth 112.
O'SULLIVAN 5-7 WILLIAMS (27-73*)
Five frames on the trot for Williams now.
O'SULLIVAN 5-7 WILLIAMS (27-27*)
Williams has drawn level with O'Sullivan now and the balls could not be set up more perfectly for him.
O'SULLIVAN 5-7 WILLIAMS (27-0)
O'Sullivan with the first chance after the interval but he can't make it pay.
What a final this has been!
Williams wins three of the opening four, O'Sullivan wins the next four, then Williams won the first four of the evening session. Back after the interval...
O'SULLIVAN 5-7 WILLIAMS
He misses a long red so the break ends on 99, but what a performance from the Welshman this evening so far.
O'SULLIVAN 5-6 WILLIAMS (8-90*)
He sure can. The frame is sealed and he looks set to record another century.
O'SULLIVAN 5-6 WILLIAMS (8-14*)
Another long red has Williams in with a chance of a big break, can he take advantage this time?
O'SULLIVAN 5-6 WILLIAMS (8-6)
A fantastic long pot gave Williams a chance to build a break but he went into the cluster slowly off the blue and is stuck having to play a safety to baulk.
O'SULLIVAN 5-6 WILLIAMS (8-0)
Williams twice misses an attempted thin cut on a red and, after a warning that another miss would see him lose the frame, he plays a fine safety behind the black.
O'SULLIVAN 5-6 WILLIAMS
Williams pots a superb pink into the yellow pocket with the cue ball on the bottom cushion to seal the frame.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (42-60)
O'Sullivan needs a snooker on the pink and is playing on - as he should.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (42-46*)
On the colours now, Williams has to get down to blue to take the frame.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (42-6)
O'Sullivan built a lead but cannoned into the green and is forced to play safe - and he leaves on a red into the middle.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (18-6)
A poor miss from Williams and he is lucky not to leave O'Sullivan an easy break-building chance.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (18-6*)
Williams set a snooker and O'Sullivan left a red on after it, so now the Welsh Potting Machine has a decent chance to build a score.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (18-0)
Just the 13 from O'Sullivan, it took a while for him to find top gear in the afternoon, maybe it will be the same here.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (10*-0)
A feature of this game has been the incredible pots into the middle pockets - and another one from O'Sullivan has him in position to build a big break.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS (5-0)
Williams is called for a miss after narrowly missing the pack of reds and then plays an aggressive safety, leaving a red over the pocket, but O'Sullivan can't get position from it with the pink and black tied up.
O'SULLIVAN 5-5 WILLIAMS
Williams finishes on a break of 104, his fifth century of the tournament and first of the final - it might be the best of this showpiece so far too.
O'SULLIVAN 5-4 WILLIAMS (0-72*)
A remarkable shot with stabbing down on a red next to the cue ball into the middle pocket kept the break going and now O'Sullivan is needing snookers.
O'SULLIVAN 5-4 WILLIAMS (0-21*)
After four straight missed pots, Williams cuts in a tough red and now has the baize at his mercy.
O'SULLIVAN 5-4 WILLIAMS (0-13)
Williams went for the lower percentage option of the blue into the green pocket to keep position but misses it.
O'SULLIVAN 5-4 WILLIAMS (0-5*)
O'Sullivan gives Williams another chance to get his hand on the table.
O'SULLIVAN 5-4 WILLIAMS
An unusually long frame between these two, but maybe what Williams needed to stop O'Sullivan from getting in to his groove again.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (33-40*)
A second wonderful spot to right middle looks set to have set Williams up for the frame.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (33-39)
Williams gets in front and leaves a snooker on the last red.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (33-21*)
O'Sullivan ran out of position and now Williams has potted a difficult red into a middle pocket.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (20*-20)
A fine pot into the middle pocket has set O'Sullivan up and he is now level with Williams and could build a frame-winning lead.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (0-20)
O'Sullivan with a good red after Williams' miss but he inadvertently clipped the black after potting and could not get any position.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (0-20)
Just the 20 from Williams as he loses position and has to play a shot to nothing.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (0-7)
O'Sullivan's fine safety forced Williams to take on a difficult pot, which he missed, but then O'Sullivan missed a fairly simple one with a rest - and now the Welshman is at the table with reds spread everywhere.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS (0-0)
Cagey opening to the frame with a safety exchange.
1900 - THE BOYS ARE BACK ON THE BAIZE
We will be back underway shortly.
1855 - BIG ASK FOR WILLIAMS NOW
He has always been a player with a lot of self-belief, but even his will have been dented by the three centuries in four frames O'Sullivan made after the interval in the afternoon session.
1845 - WELCOME BACK!
Thanks for rejoining our coverage of the Toru Championship Final.
BACK AT 1845!
Ronnie O'Sullivan recovered from a 3-1 deficit to end the afternoon session two in front of Mark Williams. Four centuries in the match so far, all from 'The Rocket'. We will be back ahead of the evening session beginnning at 1900.
O'SULLIVAN 5-3 WILLIAMS
A break of 121 sees O'Sullivan take a two-frame lead into the evening session.
O'SULLIVAN 4-3 WILLIAMS (101*-1)
A fourth century of the afternoon session for O'Sullivan.
O'SULLIVAN 4-3 WILLIAMS (50*-1)
Another half-century for O'Sullivan and he is far from finished.
O'SULLIVAN 4-3 WILLIAMS (0-1)
A very tricky pot into the left middle puts Williams on the board but then he loses concentration with a regulation black into the bottom right and he may now be looking at being two-down.
O'SULLIVAN 4-3 WILLIAMS
A break of 59 sees The Rocket take the lead.
O'SULLIVAN 3-3 WILLIAMS (25*-1)
The Rocket pots a long red and comes back off the bottom cushion with top spin to have perfect position on the blue.
O'SULLIVAN 3-3 WILLIAMS (19-1)
Williams pots a red with a plant but left himself snookered and has to play off the side cushion against the yellow.
O'SULLIVAN 3-3 WILLIAMS (19-0)
O'Sullivan with a chance but for the first time since the interval, he allows Williams back to the table.
O'SULLIVAN 3-3 WILLIAMS
A total clearance of 127 has the scores level.
O'SULLIVAN 3-3 WILLIAMS
A total clearance of 127 has the scores level.
O'SULLIVAN 2-3 WILLIAMS (72*-0)
The frame is secured and O'Sullivan looks set for a third century and to draw level.
O'SULLIVAN 2-3 WILLIAMS (1-0)
Williams misses a red to middle and O;Sullivan then pots a long red into the green pocket.
O'SULLIVAN 2-3 WILLIAMS
Another double misses the target, but after he had brought up his second century of the match. Hard way to win frames if you're relying on tons mind you.
O'SULLIVAN 1-3 WILLIAMS (57*-0)
The Rocket keeps the break going with a remarkable double.
O'SULLIVAN 1-3 WILLIAMS (17-0)
Williams misses a long red and he has left O'Sullivan with an opportunity.
O'SULLIVAN 1-3 WILLIAMS
O'Sullivan gets us back underway.
O'SULLIVAN 1-3 WILLIAMS
Williams compiles another 67 to put him two-up going into the interval.
O'SULLIVAN 1-3 WILLIAMS (0-70)
A break of 66 has Williams on the brink of a 3-1 lead. And now he has the chance to put it beyond doubt.
O'SULLIVAN 1-2 WILLIAMS (0-27)
After four consecutive missed pots, Williams finally pots a red and has also got rid of the tricky black near the cushion to give himself a chance of a big break.
O'SULLIVAN 1-2 WILLIAMS (0-4)
A cagey start to the frame, with both missing shots you would expect them to get, but not leaving easy opportunities for their opponent.
O'SULLIVAN 1-2 WILLIAMS
A brilliant break of 91 leaves the Welshman in front after the penultimate frame before the break.
O'SULLIVAN 1-1 WILLIAMS (6-35*)
Williams fell out of position but then took on a very risky long yellow to keep the break going - and was successful. He looks on to take a 2-1 lead now.
O'SULLIVAN 1-1 WILLIAMS (6-1*)
The Rocket pots red and blue but then misses a straight-forward red leaving Williams with a chance with a glut of reds nicely place around the black.
O'SULLIVAN 1-1 WILLIAMS
The frame ends with a break of 107.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS (70-5)
A loose shot gives O'Sullivan the chance to put the frame beyond Williams. Needing two snookers, he lets O'Sullivan in to rubber-stamp the frame.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS (53-5)
The break ends at 40 after O'Sullivan misses a mid-range pot.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS (14-5)
Finally one of Williams' loose shots leaves O'Sullivan on and he has a chance to build a score to draw level.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS (13-5)
This is strange. On two separate occasions now Williams has missed a red completely when trying to procure a thin edge and get back to baulk.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS (4-5)
How snooker can quickly change. Williams could not have missed a long pot by more and was very fortunate not to leave a pot on. He gave it a cricket wide with his arms.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS (4-0)
Williams goes in off to give O'Sullivan the first chance in the second frame.
O'SULLIVAN 0-1 WILLIAMS
Let's hope for more of the same.
O'SULLIVAN 0-0 WILLIAMS (29-67)
O'Sullivan leaves the red on and Williams pots it to ensure he wins the first frame.
O'SULLIVAN 0-0 WILLIAMS (29-66)
Williams leaves the last red on the cushion and plays a snooker, with O'Sullivan needing one of his own to win the frame.
O'SULLIVAN 0-0 WILLIAMS (29-28*)
Both have started very sharp. Williams is now very comfortable on the table and could make a match-winning break here.
O'SULLIVAN 0-0 WILLIAMS (29-0)
The Rocket runs out of position and leaves the cue ball back on baulk.
O'SULLIVAN 0-0 WILLIAMS (1-0)
A stupendous long red from O'Sullivan with the cue ball just a fraction away from baulk, gets us off and running. More of the same please.
O'SULLIVAN 0-0 WILLIAMS (0-0)
O'Sullivan breaks off.
1300 - THE BOYS ARE ON THE BAIZE...
We will be underway shortly in the best of 19.
1255 - BOTH COMING INTO FORM AT THE RIGHT TIME
This is when snooker players want to be at their best and Mark Williams showed his form beating Judd Trump and Mark Allen to get here, while Ronnie O'Sullivan has enigmatically shown signs of returning to his unbeatable game winning four of the last six tournaments he has competed in.
1250 - POTENTIAL CLASSIC ON EVE OF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Many snooker fans could be forgiven for having eyes on the start of the World Championshiop at the Crucible tomorrow, but not when you have two of the Class of 92 battling it out here.
1245 - HELLO AND WELCOME
Thanks for joining our coverage of the Tour Championship Final between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams.
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