Dazzling Ronnie O'Sullivan makes four centuries to dispatch Ding and reach World Grand Prix final
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Updated 20/01/2024 at 22:09 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan was at his very best as he swept past Ding Junhui to set up a meeting with Judd Trump in the final of the World Grand Prix. O'Sullivan hit four century breaks in the match - 135, 128, 128 and 124 - as he powered his way past Ding to reach the 63rd final of his career. Trump beat Cao Yupeng 6-2 in the other semi-final of the tournament.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan made four century breaks in a superb display as he beat Ding Junhui in reach the 2024 World Grand Prix final.
O’Sullivan has seemed downbeat over his form this week and has said he is “not enjoying” snooker at the moment.
But his mood might have been lifted after producing arguably his best performance of the season to dismantle Ding and set up a final against Judd Trump.
O’Sullivan, who has now won 13 matches in a row, opened with a break of 135 and then added three more centuries – 128, 128 and 124 – to win in just over 70 minutes.
"Almost like the Matrix," said former world No. 6 Alan McManus on ITV.
"He sees a picture and it’s all going to come together. I don’t know how he does it. From shot one until the end it was perfection."
O'Sullivan admitted that his performance was "up there" with the best of his career.
"I felt alright tonight, I felt comfortable and tidy," he told ITV.
"Every shot I felt in control. I felt I could get the ball where I wanted it to go.
"I’m not bothered about the breaks, it’s more I felt like if I was given a chance I could make something, whereas for the last two years I’ve felt I have struggled to make 20. Tonight I felt relaxed and confident because I felt if I got a chance I could do something."
Sunday's final will see the top-two ranked players meet as world No. 1 O'Sullivan takes on world No. 2 Trump, who beat Cao Yupeng 6-2 in the other semi-final.
It will be their first meeting since November 2022, when O'Sullivan beat Trump in the Champion of Champions final.
"I am looking forward to it," said O'Sullivan.
"Judd has been one of the players of the season and is playing fantastically well. I need to play something like that to have a chance of winning."
O'Sullivan hardly gave Ding an opening in a one-sided semi-final.
A break of 85 in the second saw Ding level the match but he scored just 68 minutes across the rest of the contest.
O'Sullivan knocked in a 128 to restore his lead and then followed up with breaks of 79 and 90 to move further clear.
There was no coming back for Ding as O'Sullivan continued his red-hot play with two more centuries to wrap up the win.
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