Ronnie Again

Ronnie O`Sullivan so good for the Masters.

Ronnie wins his 5th Masters conceding just 7 frames

I don't had many time to made reviews, but is very good back to write about Ronnie, the Masters Champion.

He had a great week, and played terrific to reach to the final.

In the quarter-finals, Ronnie faced Ricky Walden who is playing an excellent snooker, making the peoples expected a close one.

But Ronnie was exquisite, and made the record of 556 unanswered points in his whitewash against Walden.

Walden said that Ronnie was "unplayable", and that was described as a "snooker utopia", but the modest Ronnie, considered that like a "one-off" and said that he isn't playing at this form.

Anyway, Maguire, who beats Neil in the quarter-final, wasn't able to stop Ronnie, and a 6-2 guaranteed Rocket in his 10th Masters Final, another record.

The Final

Everyone expected Ronnie's victory, but when Selby qualified to the final, the things changed a bit, because

Selby faced Ronnie in the Masters Final 2 times, in 2009 (10-8 to Ronnie) and 2010 (10-9 to Selby), so, many peoples expected a close encounter at least.

But it wasn't look close when Ronnie take the first 3 frames, needing just 1 visit in the first 2, and 2 visits in the 3rd.

Ronnie ended the first session 7-1 up, top breaks of 97, 70, 96 & 53.

In the second session, Ronnie start stronger and made a 90 break in his first chance to make a lead of 8-1.

Selby, the Master of comebacks, wins the next 2 and put him 8-3 back, before Ronnie take the next frame and keep one frame away from the Masters Title.

Selby made a 67 in the 13th frame, but Ronnie finish it in style, with a 72 break.

Here is the complete draw of The Masters.

In interview after-match, Ronnie said:

"It's a great feeling, I expected it to be 10-9 or 10-8 because Mark is such a competitor and there's not much between us. He plays better when he's behind and you're never over the line against him until you pot the last ball. 

 I missed an awful brown to go 9-1 and then I was concerned he would get it back to 8-4, so I was pleased to win the frame to go 9-3 at the interval. I told myself to just keep competing. 

The match against Ricky Walden was a one-off, I was never going to be able to do that against Mark.

 I've got five World, five Masters and four UKs now and I never dreamed I would do this well. It's just nice to be playing and competing at 38 because most of the others now are in their late 20s or early 30s. I have set myself a target of winning the world title when I'm in my 40s. Tom Watson (golf player) nearly won the Open at 59. 

 I'm competing with the players from the new era and the standard is high. To beat Mark 10-4 after the epic finals we have had is great. The way I've played in the last two years is how I wanted to play for the previous 18. Better late than never I suppose."

Selby said:

 "There's no one who wins frames in one visit like Ronnie, and makes it look so easy. I should have won the fourth frame and it might have been different if it had gone 3-1. Even at 7-1 I never felt I was out of it and believed I could win. I tried to put pressure on him and build my own confidence. 

 I'm disappointed to lose in the final of both the UK and the Masters but if I keep working hard hopefully I'll be winning again soon. I have won this before so it doesn't hurt as much." 

10-4 in a final ever is a nice result, but it's a bit more for Ronnie, because is a "sign" that he is playing better against "slow and safe" players. Is a big result also because Ronnie had close ones against Selby in the past.

Pics by the Great Monique Limbos, you can found all that here