Welsh Open: Rocket races to straight sets win

By Joe Mansfield.

RONNIE O’Sullivan avoided any opening round hiccups to win 4-0 against fellow Englishman Robbie Williams.

The Rocket encouraged fans to tune in to watch him but they had to be quick as the game lasted just 45 minutes. It was a quick-fire demolition job that showed O’Sullivan is still a force to be reckoned with.

 

The Rocket was in scintillating form and wasted little time getting into his work. He opened his scoring account with a break of 56 before sealing victory of the first frame just 10 minutes.

The free scoring four-time Welsh Open champion sent a message to his rivals in the second frame as he cleared the table with a fabulous break of 122. Williams will kick himself for giving the rocket the opportunity, he missed a straightforward pink with the reds well placed for a big break.

A hallmark any O’Sullivan performance is fast paced Snooker with precise positional play. This game was no different as the rocket averaged just 15 seconds per shot and scored heavily.

Williams, who hails from the Wirral, was on the receiving end of a masterclass, but he did have chances of his own. In the third frame he notched up 42 points, but the six-time World Champion was not in a forgiving mood and produced his third 50+ break of the game.

The performance was capped off by more break building excellence as O’Sullivan heaped misery upon his opponent. A break of 73 saw him secure a place in the second round of the Welsh Open, without allowing his opponent to score a point in the final frame.

Two greats of the game will meet in the second round as Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on Jimmy ‘The Whirlwind’ White. The rocket sits second in the World Rankings on live points and stands a good chance of winning his fifth Welsh Open title after a strong first round showing.

Frame Scores

1 – 74 v 4

2 – 122-13

3 – 78 v 42

4 – 74 v 0