For some time it seemed as if Marco Fu would possibly gatecrash the occasion, however in the long run the Betway UK Championship has bought one of many finals that many neutrals would have needed within the form of Ronnie O’Sullivan in opposition to Mark Selby.
Simply trying on the two names whets the urge for food for a long-distance contest over the most effective of 19 frames for the £170,000 first prize at York’s Barbican Centre at present – and serves as a reminder of a few of their earlier high-profile clashes.
Though O’Sullivan, going for a record-equalling sixth UK title to match Steve Davis, claimed that he was “the underdog” on Saturday evening, the bookmakers disagree – however not by a lot. The sheer weight of cash O’Sullivan all the time attracts might be the explanation for him being a marginal favorite.
However Selby, who has the sting on his rival in total finals and in addition the main ones, has the possibility to stamp some extra authority each on O’Sullivan and the game usually after being world No1 for 94 weeks in a row.
John Higgins might have been profitable the massive invitational match cash within the final month, however the 33-year-old Selby has now been prime of the rankings for almost two years and already appears prone to keep there till the World Championship. Victory would solely make that extra possible.
O’Sullivan defends an astonishing 100 per cent file in UK finals having received 5 from 5, the primary coming in 1993 as a 17-year-old. Nevertheless it was Selby who ended an analogous world ultimate file for the Rocket on the Crucible two years in the past. And there have additionally been huge wins for the Leicester Jester in a Masters ultimate, and a Welsh Open showpiece.
There has unquestionably been needle between the pair prior to now, created partly by a conflict of kinds, and O’Sullivan commenting on this in lower than flattering phrases about Selby’s play – notably in his autobiography when he branded his rival ‘The Torturer’.
However very like within the case of an analogous stand-off with Stephen Hendry a few years in the past, O’Sullivan insists that the connection has thawed following plenty of joint exhibitions and excursions overseas, when it’s onerous for 2 gamers to not spend a deal of time collectively.
O’Sullivan dropped as many frames in opposition to Fu as he had within the earlier 5 matches, and was in reality fortunate to win by means of, the Hong Kong participant blowing an important likelihood to wrap up victory at 6-4 earlier than lacking an important inexperienced and seeing the Rocket mop up with 130 within the decider.
However each O’Sullivan and Selby are chasing historical past at present. Whereas O’Sullivan tries to equal one among boyhood hero Steve Davis’s marks and in addition declare a twenty ninth rating title that may edge him forward of the Nugget and John Higgins, Selby additionally has targets.
He can develop into the primary participant for 15 years to win the world and UK titles in the identical calendar yr, one thing completed solely by Davis, Stephen Hendry, O’Sullivan, John Higgins and John Parrott. And a equally small group have received every of the massive three on two or extra events.
It guarantees to an important ultimate and contest – prior to now such showpiece events between the pair have hardly ever upset.
