'Del Boy' now plotting Rocket's downfall

Graeme Dott has enlisted the help of the snooker coach nicknamed ‘Del Boy’ to help him try to pull off the biggest ever shock in an Embassy World Championship final.

Derek Hill used to work with Ronnie Sullivan until the pair parted company after eight years at the start of this season.

Now, ironically, Hill is looking to try and plot the downfall of ‘The Rocket’, who was made overwhelming favourite at 1-12 on by bookmakers Ladbrokes to lift his second world crown.

Dott is still well in contention to claim the title and the £250,000 (€370,900) first prize after only trailing 9-7 going into the second day of the 35-frame marathon.

He was in dreamland at one juncture as he won the opening five frames before O’Sullivan started to find the form that had demolished Stephen Hendry 17-4 in the semi-finals.

Hill first started working with Dott, a 200-1 long shot for the title at the beginning of the tournament, two seasons ago and has continued to assist with his game, although not on a day-to-day basis.

He said: “It is very strange for me to be in another corner against Ronnie. I was with him for eight years before we parted at the beginning of this season and I wish him all the best.

“He is a genius. He said in his book he might not be playing the game if it wasn’t for me but that would have been a travesty.

“I am happy he is playing and saw what he did here in the semi-final to Stephen Hendry. He has been capable of that for years and I hope it carries on for the good of snooker.

“But now I am working with Graeme. I feel that I am appreciated by him and I want to help him. He’s a gritty lad and he is a character.”

Hill added: “I’ve been chatting to Graeme all week, chatting a bit about his approach and saying that he has to play his game and get people thinking about him. That is his strength and he should play to his strengths.

“I first worked with Graeme the season before last but once I have worked with anyone, and I’ve worked with half of the top 40 now, they feel they can come and talk to me at any time and I’m there for them.

“I basically don’t need to be with them all of the time if I am doing my job right. I was at The Crucible this week with Joe Swail but went after he got beat.

“But I’ve been talking on the phone all week with Graeme and I had a call from him on Saturday night asking if I would come up to Sheffield and be in his corner for the final.”

O’Sullivan could scarcely believe the opening salvo from Dott, who rattled in breaks of 71, 77, 64 and 60 in his five-frame salvo.

But he gradually edged his way back into the match and would have been relieved to end the first session only trailing 5-3.

Dott had cause to rue a couple of golden opportunities during the second session when frames looked there for the taking.

But it took O’Sullivan until frame 15 to finally edge ahead for the first time at 8-7 and he also came out on top in the final frame of the session.