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![[image loading]](http://www.pro9.co.uk/html/gallery/gallery/Logos/2011BetfredWorldSnookerChampionshipLogo500.jpg)
It was an incredible tournament this year, with lots of upsets and emotional happenings. It started with one of the greatest snooker players ever, Stephen Hendry to grab himself a 147 break in the opening day of the championships and to look like his former self after dropping out of the top 16 world rankings after a poor season.
It also had a welsh man in Ryan day accuse the Chinese players of Cheating and unfair play after he crashed out.
It had the sad announcement of Hendry who got himself a 147 and looking really good lose 13-2 in the quarter final and announce his retirement from all forms of the game with immediate effect, which was a sad day for the sport.
But what was truely special was the return to form of the Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan, this guy is the Lebron James/Tiger Woods/Messi of Snooker, he plays the game with so much talent and so much falir it is incredible! He is a genius around the table and always has been, whenever he sees a pot he takes it on, whenever he has the chance to open the pack of reds up he does. Whenever he can he plays aggressive snooker its great to watch! Not only does he do all of that, when he does this he does it at a Rockets pace, so fast so quick its incredible.
Im going to focus on the final as i think it was the most important game of the tournament for Ronnie. It is a Best of 35 frames of snooker, first to 18 wins takes the elusive crown of World Snooker champion. Ronnie was vowing to get his 4th Title and his opponent, Ali "Captain" Carter was trying to grab his 1st world title, after only appearing in the final for the second time, which ironically was Vs Ronnie which he got beaten in.
It started quite slowly with 12 minutes of safety play before Carter pocketed the first red and try to get the first frame on the board, however he missed an easy red and Ronnie got up out of his seat a clinched the 1st frame in one visit to go 1-0 up. Before Carter knew it he was 2-0 down with Ronnie smashing his way to a 117 break with ease and speed. However Carter dug in to take the next 2 frames to level at 2-2, it was followed by a frame a peice to make it 3-3 after some probing snooker by both. But in the seventh frame O'Sullivan despatched an incredible clearance of 92 which had looked impossible when he came to the table as several balls were close to cushions. And the Crucible was rocked once more when the crowd favourite blasted in his highest break of the tournament - a score of 141 - to take the upper hand in snooker's biggest match. The afternoon session done, the Rocket leading 5-3 the evening session was going to be good.
The evening session started in a tense affair, Carter knew he needed to get off to a good start in the second session and he managed it, making a break of 56 in the opener to get back within one frame. O' Sullivan responded well though, claiming a lengthy tenth frame and then making 68 in the next to restore a comfortable three frame cushion at 7-4. It went to Carter in the next to keep himself in it to make it 7-5 before Ronnie snuck back in front after captailising on mistakes from Captain Carter, 8-5 the scores stood. The next few frames were not as good level wise as Ronnie managed to finish the night off with a 10-7 lead going into the final day.
I'd like to add at the begining of the final day, we were told that the whole of the first day of the final (Sunday) Ronnie was playing with food poisioning which he got Saturday and had only eaten a Bannana all day yet played so brilliantly to take a 10-7 lead into the final day, astonishing!
The Afternoon session began at 3pm BST Sunday afternoon, Ronnie needing 8 frames to win the tittle and Carter needing 11 frames to keep his dreams alive.
Within a flash of light the Crucible was cheering as the Rocket notched up a massive 100 break in the opening frame to stretch his lead to 11-7 looking superb on his way. Then in the next frame Carter missed an easy pink to allow Ronnie in again to take the frame, 12-7! The next 2 frames followed suit with Ronnie cruising to a 14-7 lead before a mini break appeared to save Carter from losing the world title before the evening session! Carter came out and won the next 2 frames to make it 14-9 with a great break in the circumstances of 105. But Ronnie hit back with great safety play and took the next to regain his 6 frame advantage at 15-9. Carter dug in deep and took the last frame of the Afternoon, 15-10 Ronnie leads going into the last session of the tournament! Carter needing a miracle and Ronnie just needed to stay cool.
The evening session began, Ronnie comes out with his favorite music of Robbie Williams - Let Me Entertain You, getting the crowd even more pumped for their favorite to hammer home his win.
It started out with a great peice of work by Ronnie to carve himself out break of 70 and take the first frame of the evening in convincing fashion, 16-10 he leads, 2 more to win his 4th title. Carter bounces back in the next showing huge courage to make a break of 64 and clinch the frame, 16-11, can he possible do it? Break the crucibles heart and comeback and take the title? No, he surely couldn't Ronnie comes out of his seat and makes some unbelievable safety play and take the next frame, 17-11, one frame away, the crowd cheering like crazy as the Referee sets up the balls for the next frame. Carter takes on a red as he has nothing left but to go gung ho to try and force a break to take frames away from Ronnie, he misses, Ronnie comes in and clears up. Crowd goes wild, the crucible dreams come true, the fan favorite has won and immense tournament 18-11 after just under 7hours of play time. Ronnie seemingly back to his best playing fantastic snooker in the toughest circumstances regaining his spot as one of the greatest ever to grace the sport.
![[image loading]](http://www.worldsnooker.com/javaImages/8d/34/0,,13165~10826893,00.jpg)
What makes it even more sweet is Ronnie has major issues with his attitude towards the game, he loves the sport but the mental aspect of the game ruins him sometimes. He has installed a sports psychologist in Dr Steve Peters who has worked with Olympic athletes in England before, and thanked him alot in his post match speech after receiving the crown. He has many a time looked as good as he normally does playing the game, but when his head goes he loses ever so fast. He hasn't won as many world titles as he should have done due to losing his head in the mental aspect of playing 17 long days of Snooker at the highest level but he managed to crack the code this year again thanks to a psychologist.
Being a fan of Ronnie it was only a fitting tribute i thought it should be written down and i thank anyone who has read this blog or is a fan of a snooker.
Sources - Information
Source
Ronnie O'Sullivan Wiki
Ali Carter Wiki
Stephen Hendry Wiki
Ryan Day Wiki
