Rocket backed in tip row

Ronnie O’Sullivan’s former coach Del Hill has leapt to the defence of The Rocket after his tip controversy rocked the 888.com World Championships and insisted: “He is no cheat.”

O’Sullivan brought about a 15-minute delay during his semi-final with Graeme Dott – now coached by Hill – after his tip came off during the 14th frame.

O’Sullivan, who has been plagued by tip problems during the tournament, came in for initial criticism from former world champions and current BBC pundits Steve Davis and John Parrot.

Six times winner Davis said: “It looked like Ronnie was picking at the tip to get it off. It is unfair on Graeme Dott who had just started to hit some rhythm. In other sports can you deliberately halt progress?”

Parrot claimed: “Let’s say the tip got help in coming off. I am not very happy with that. He should not be allowed to do that.”

But the highly-respected Hill rejected any claims O’Sullivan had deliberately ripped off the tip to halt a session which had seen Dott hold the upper after trailing 5-3 overnight.

Hill said: “I have known Ronnie for years, worked with him for years and he is not a cheat. No-one could ever say that about him.

“I am Graeme’s coach now and Ronnie is a sportsman. Look at the times he has called a foul against himself. I repeat, Ronnie is not a cheat.”

O’Sullivan, who has got through more than 20 tips during the past fortnight, again enlisted the aid of Pontefract professional Jimmy Michie in repairing his cue.

And ironically in the next frame he put together his best break of a match in he has struggled to fire on all cylinders – a superb 124 clearance.

But Dott, beaten by O’Sullivan in the 2004 final, is a tough competitor and will head into Saturday’s two sessions all square at 8-8 following a 74 to the final black.

He gave O’Sullivan little more than a cursory handshake at the end of the session, although tournament director Mike Ganley was happy nothing untoward had happened.

He said: “We all know that Ronnie has had tip problems this week. I spoke to Ronnie at the time and he assures me the tip was loose and he couldn’t continue.”

Peter Ebdon is closing in on his third appearance in the final after producing near faultless snooker in opening up a 15-9 lead against Marco Fu.

Ebdon, who had failed to reach a single ranking quarter-final this season before arriving in Sheffield, needs to win only two more frames.

His performance was in total contrast to the turgid exhibition from both players who adopted a no-risk policy during the opening eight frames, which occupied nearly four hours.

Ebdon cued superbly and gave a magnificent example of break-building as he reeled off three centuries and eight other 50-plus breaks in the 16 frames fought out yesterday.