Snooker: O’Sullivan takes early control

Ronnie O'Sullivan and John Higgins are set to resume their Embassy World Championship final at the Crucible in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan established an early grip in his bid to win the title for the first time as he powered into a 6-2 lead over John Higgins in the opening session of the final at Sheffield.

Higgins had been made slight favourite by the bookmakers despite his sapping semi-final with Matthew Stevens late on Saturday evening and O’Sullivan’s brilliant form in the tournament.

But, as throughout the competition, the Rocket was quickly out of the blocks to put himself in the ascendancy in the best of 35 frame showpiece.

Arsenal fan O’Sullivan is still pulling out the spectacular shots but his respect for 1998 world champion Higgins is such that he is also taking no unnecessary risks.

The capacity Crucible Theatre audience were treated to 42 minutes of explosive action in the first four frames with both players quickly into their stride at the start of the best of 35 marathon.

Higgins, given odds of 8-11 on by the bookmakers, looked in control of the first frame after O’Sullivan failed to get out of a snooker behind the green.

The Scot put together a run of 37 and, with the balls open, had a golden chance to draw first blood.

But, after potting a red, Higgins unluckily went off into the middle pocket and, O’Sullivan in his present form, was handed the kind of chance he has not looked like squandering all tournament.

An 88 break enabled O’Sullivan to open his account but Higgins was showing few signs of weariness after his marathon match against Matthew Stevens which ended late on Saturday evening.

He was quickly back on level terms with breaks of 47 and 45 and even at this early stage the indications were that the match could be a Crucible classic.

It was O’Sullivan’s turn to strike in the next and he looked to have an excellent chance of equalling Joe Swail’s highest tournament break of 140.

After getting to 81 the cue ball nestled against the remaining cluster of four reds and ended such hopes.

But O’Sullivan, rated at evens with the bookmakers to take his first world crown, was soon scoring heavily again in the last frame before the interval.

An initial run of 47 was created after Higgins missed a red into the right black pocket and O’Sullivan made sure of a 3-1 lead after Higgins got out of a snooker behind the yellow but left an easy pot for the Essex Exocet.

After the fireworks before the break, the fifth frame was positively pedestrian and scrappy in comparison and it last 32 minutes before O’Sullivan stretched his lead to three frames.

Both players failed to capitalise on uncharacteristic mistakes but O’Sullivan, traling 22-47, made the decisive move when he snookered Higgins on the final red.

Higgins managed to escape but O’Sullivan was presented with another straightforward opportunity and he made sure with a 34 clearance.

Higgins responded in spectacular style with a 135 clearance in frame six to make it 4-2 and it was also the 50th hundred of the tournament.

But O’Sullivan re-established control in the final two frames of the session. Runs of 48 and 42 secured frame seven and then a 70 break in the next left Higgins needing snookers and he conceded after leaving his opponent an easy red.