2016/17 has won their first title earlier this month, and as one of the most influential players in the current snooker professional game, "Rocket" Ronnie O'Sullivan did not survive the season-end event, this time he fell at the feet of Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals.
He reached the finals of the ranking tournament twice this season, but both passed the championship, winning only the top invitational tournament, the Masters, to achieve the seventh title of the individual Masters. Keep in mind that in the last 10 seasons, Ronnie O'Sullivan has not won the ranking tournament in 2010/11, and in that season he only played in five ranking competitions, less than half of the number of this season.
For O'Sullivan, for ding Junhui who defeated himself, the Rockets are very pleased to witness his growth. 'I really enjoyed it, had a great time here and it felt great to be able to play in three great games. O'Sullivan recalled the match, "Ding Junhui played very well, which is really a shining moment for snooker, for China. It wasn't a bad result for me, although it ended a little early but I enjoyed a nice holiday. ”
The two sides showed considerable firepower in this game, drawing twice, Ding Junhui took the lead in establishing a five-set lead, but O'Sullivan immediately narrowed the point difference to 2 innings, and finally the two sides alternated hands with Ding Junhui to end the game with a single shot. Ding Junhui, who has always been shy after the game, warmly hugged O'Sullivan, the two whispered for a long time, and the rockets congratulated ding Junhui on the cheek with relief.
"I can't say he idolized me, but I made a career out of it when he was a kid." O'Sullivan said ding's last time he beat the Rockets in the ranking game dates back to 2006, "Our relationship is amazing, the 2007 Masters has been 10 years now, I hugged him after beating him, and now he gives me a hug after beating me." ”
'It's good to be able to go through a period like this, he's a completely different player now, he's still only 30 years younger.
Snooker legend Steve Davis also expressed his opinion after watching the game, he believes that O'Sullivan is far from reaching the "hero twilight": "Players of Ronnie's (O'Sullivan) level, his strength is difficult to suddenly 'collapse', but the good state sometimes miraculously 'evaporates' in an instant. But I'm sure we'll see Ronnie again in the future at the stage of a table, and that's going to happen. ”
Peter Alberton, 2002 world champion and two-time runner-up winner of the World Championships, said: "I think Ronnie played well, he played an impressive 100 in the final stage, but Ding Junhui is more powerful. Ding Junhui scored a cleanser himself to win the whole game after Ronnie cleared the stage, which showed incredible personality, and it was unbelievable that he could play such a high level of stability against a champion. ”