Having labelled his own semi-final performance as “embarrassing”, O’Sullivan had renowned sports psychologist Steve Peters in attendance at London’s Alexandra Palace for the final and he explained how his guidance had helped guide him to the title.
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17/1/16 Ronnie O’Sullivan in action during the fi …
“I play my best snooker when I’m playing fast”, added Trump, who faces Barry Hawkins – conqueror of Ulsterman Mark Allen – in today’s semi-finals of the £600,000 glamour event at Alexandra Palace in London.
The world No.6’s triumph was all the more remarkable given this was his first major tournament since taking a eight-month sabbatical from snooker. “I’m not sure if it’s my back problem but my body and cue feel disconnected”, O’Sullivan said.
And Hawkins told BBC Sport: “He (Trump) was obviously favourite to beat me with the way he played (on Friday), but I always know if you can take your practice game out there you have a chance, and (on Saturday) I managed to do that”.
Hawkins, who had won his first matches in the Masters this year, said: “I was sitting there and I was thinking I don’t feel like I’ve even been involved in the final”. Indeed, this was O’Sullivan’s first appearance since his shock quarter-final exit to Stuart Bingham in the Worlds past year.
“Barry is an unbelievable player and he’s beaten some great players this week”.
“I felt so good against Judd [Trump] in the semi-final and I was hoping to feel the same out there but I just didn’t get going at all”.
“I wish he would retire, to be fair!” he said of his conqueror.
The fourth frame was a tighter affair and Hawkins missed a simple black to allow O’Sullivan to compile a lead and although Hawkins then did well to clear the reds from the cushions, a missed yellow allowed O’Sullivan to clear and snatch the frame.
“But if you can produce some form it doesn’t matter how long you have out, you still have that talent”.
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A missed red down the table presented a chance to O’Sullivan and he did not let it pass as he was starting to win both the comfortable and scrappy contests and leave Hawkins in the dust.
