KYREN WILSON held his nerve to sink a century in the deciding frame and end Ronnie O’Sullivan’s chances of winning a record eighth UK Championship title in York.
Wilson summoned a nerveless 102 for victory after O’Sullivan, who had looked ill at ease throughout their quarter-final clash, clawed back two frames in a row to haul the match level at 5-5.
The 45-year-old took frequent breaks throughout the match, insisting to referee Jan Verhaas that he was distracted by movement in the audience during frame-breaks in the second match in the two-table arena.
O’Sullivan also demanded a photographer be removed from the arena floor, but afterwards shrugged off the incidents and repeated his recent insistence that he “didn’t care” enough to make it a major issue.
O’Sullivan said: “I’d rather just sit down and wait. I said to the referee, we’re in no rush. I’m here to play snooker and there’s no time limit on how long the match takes.
“It doesn’t bother me. I play in good venues and bad venues, it is what it is. I don’t even care enough to have an opinion on it. It is what it is – just keep eating the smoked salmon and cream cheese.”
Wilson, seeking a place in his first UK semi-final and only a fourth win over O’Sullivan in 11 attempts, had got off to a flying start with breaks of 92 and 117 to establish a 2-0 lead.
O’Sullivan staged his first sit-down protest early in the fourth frame but it did little to detract from his momentum as he returned to polish off a century of his own and haul the match back level at 2-2.
After sharing the next two frames, O’Sullivan’s frustration boiled over again early in the seventh, when he insisted a photographer be removed from the arena.
Twice more O’Sullivan returned to his seat in the eighth frame, during a break in play in the match next door. O’Sullivan told Verhaas: “It’s the noise – I’d rather they all sit down, I’m in no rush.”
A rash safety from O’Sullivan allowed Wilson to produce a 39 clearance and move one frame from victory, but he blew his first chance of wrapping up the win after running out of position on a break of 35.
O’Sullivan duly summoned a 64 clearance to reduce the deficit to one frame, then forced the decider with a cool clearance of 83, punctuated by another short break as the action ebbed on the other table.
But it was Wilson who rose to the occasion, clenching his fist midway through his final-frame century which sealed a last-four clash against Belgium’s Luca Brecel, who beat Anthony McGill 6-2.
Wilson said: “I’m super-proud. At 5-3 things were starting to go a little bit against me and it’s only human to start to think your time has gone.
“I’m kind of fighting myself and starting to think I could have won this one, I’ve let another one slip against him, because I have let a couple slip against Ronnie, so to hold it together and take it out convincingly, there’s no better feeling.”
Wilson insisted he was not distracted by O’Sullivan’s antics, but admitted: “I just wanted to get on with it.
“I understand his reasoning for that. But when the crowd were up on my turn I just got on with it and I did a pretty good job.”
There will always be a market to exploit in Ireland. Even though there is apparently a recession Irish people seem to always have the money to waste on sporting events that are anything but what they appear to be.
We saw it with Bernard Dunne with the O2 packed everytime he fought there even though he was fighting lads who were handpicked so they could cash in. When he had to fight the mandatory challengers he was exposed.
Dana White sees that he can cash in with the Irish people so willing to spend money. No doubt McGregor will have several fights handpicked so they can sell out a few O2 dates and bleed the Irish dry before he fights an actual good fighter and is exposed.
“Money to waste on sporting events”…”bleed the Irish dry”…You would swear by your comments that people aren’t free to make their own choices on whether to buy a ticket or not!
Whether Mcgregor fights or not, the O2 will sell out with the thousands of UFC fans in Ireland! If people want to spend their hard earned money on going then its their choice, whether you believe its a waste or not!
I went to all of Dunnes’s fights in the O2. I dont class any of them as a waste of money. It gave everybody in there a great feeling and was very enjoyable to watch!
Agree with what you say about Bernard Dunne to a certain extent, Brian Peters and Rte certainly built up some of those fights to be far more than they actually were, to entice the casual fans. But people got their moneys worth with his performance against Cordoba.
But as far as McGregor goes with the UFC.. McGregor is already huge in the states and the last thing the UFC needs is to be showing his fights at 2 in the afternoon over there. They’ll have him fight next year in Dublin but after that I’d say most of his fights will be in the states.The o2 is only roughly a 9k seater stadium. The UFC makes far more off televison deals and pay per views than they do off ticket sales. The likes of Alexander Gustaffson whos swedish and a huge hit there has only got to fight there once, because its far more profitable for the UFC to have him on at a prime time in the US on pay per view cards.
And as far as opponents go, theres talk of him fighting Diego Sanchez in his next fight which is by no means an easy one. A big lightweight, whos a veteran. The quicker the UFC get him up the ladder and closer to contention for a title the more money for the UFC. McGregor has an international audience at this stage, not just the Irish.
No they were not a waste of money as he was winning but he was beating nobodies. He beat one good fighter in his career and was then exposed by the better ones and put into retirement. He avoided the best fighters for as long as possible so he, Peters and RTE could all make as much money before he was exposed and the bubble burst. If he was a great fighter he would still be boxing now and certainly wouldn’t have retired when he did.
It’s too early to judge how good McGregor is going to be but I’m sceptical.
Agreed. But there’s no value for the UFC in nursing him against nobodies in Ireland. They should move him on quickly enough. If he beats Diego Sanchez convincingly I’ll start believing. I’d much rather he stayed at featherweight though, and I think the UFX could feel the same, so that fight mightn’t happen. They could give him a handy fight like Andy Ogle at featherweight in Dublin but I hope not. Cole Miller would be an interesting one, and a step up in class.
I don’t think he would beat Diego sanchez.
Tough one..he would definitely outstrike him, Sanchez has sloppy striking and he overcommits way too much. Sanchez is a beast though and he would come in heavier than McGregor. I reckon McGregor would beat him..but I’d rather he stayed at featherweight!
He’s a featherweight /lightweight
“It’s a most distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind.”