Snooker: O'Sullivan sets up final pace against Doherty

Ronnie O’ Sullivan said he played the best snooker of his life to beat Mark Williams 9-6 and reach a UK Championship final showdown against Ireland’s Ken Doherty in York.

O’ Sullivan scored three century breaks, including the tournament’s highest of 142, to overcome the only player ahead of him on the world ranking list. If this remains the highest it will pocket O’ Sullivan Stg£10,000.

Williams, the UK champion in 1999, did not give up without a battle and looked like he would prove more than a match for the man directly behind him when he produced a break of 86 in the opening frame.

O’ Sullivan went one better with an 87 to level and after the next two frames were shared, O'Sullivan piled on the pressure by taking three in succession to lead 5-2. O’Sullivan then went ahead 7-4 including a break of 131Williams won the last frame of the afternoon and the first of the evening,

with a break of 67, to trail by one before O’ Sullivan claimed the final two

frames he needed.

Afterwards he paid tribute to the world’s number one ranked player.

"Mark played out of his skin. I scored heavily and didn't miss a long pot all day, but I couldn't shake him off. "I'm not looking forward to playing him for the next five or six years. He's a class act. Sometimes I just sit there and learn from him”.

Williams predicted that Doherty will have his work cut out keeping O'Sullivan in check tomorrow.

"It will be a tough match for Ken," said the 2000 world champion. "Ronnie can make a frame-winning break in just a few minutes, but Ken is capable of beating him”. In this form O’ Sullivan will go into the match favourite to take the UK title.