Ronnie O’Sullivan gave a 5-3 lead to Judd Trump after a captivating opening session of the World Snooker Championship final, culminating in O’Sullivan getting involved in an angry exchange with Belgian referee Olivier Marteel in the last frame in the afternoon in Sheffield. .
O’Sullivan won five of the first six frames to take the lead over Trump before the 32-year-old won the last two frames of the afternoon to reduce the deficit before Sunday night. However, in this last frame, O’Sullivan and Martial faced each other after Martial seemed to rebuke O’Sullivan when he returned to his seat after failing to escape the yellow snooker.
The six-time world champion, who claims to equal Stephen Hendry’s modern-day seven-time Crucible title record, insisted Martel was wrong about the allegations and he “saw nothing” before pointing a stern finger at the Belgian as he returned. on the table to serve. Trump, like the rest of Crucible, was a confused spectator before wondering why Martiel hadn’t waited until the session was over to talk to O’Sullivan.
However, the 32-year-old restrained his nerves and cleared the remaining colors to reduce O’Sullivan’s lead to two frames pointing to the evening session, although O’Sullivan did not offer Marteel’s usual handshake at the end of the session.
The World Snooker Tour confirmed the incident in a statement, which reads: “Ronnie O’Sullivan received an official warning from the referee after a gesture he made in the eighth frame.”
O’Sullivan denied any wrongdoing in an interview with Eurosport, saying: “I just think he [Marteel] seems to be looking for trouble. I just get that mood from the person. They have hundreds of cameras and everyone can go and check them out. I’m not going to have any of that because I think he’s just trying to create something. He has to deal with it, not me. “
The result of the first session was one that Trump would be happy with after falling behind 5-1. He called his meeting with O’Sullivan a “dream” finale, but at one point it seemed to be a nightmare for the Bristol.
After Trump won the first frame, O’Sullivan won five in a row to move to command in the race to 18 to become world champion and win the £ 500,000 winning check. Leaving six or even five frames against a probable the greatest snooker leader he has ever seen would be a huge mount to climb for Trump, even with three sessions left to play.
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Earlier, Trump squandered the chance to make it 2-2 after missing a rather routine red, allowing O’Sullivan to secure a counter-clearance and lead 3-1. He returned from the mid-session interval to win two more frames, including the second century of the session, to move into a strong position, with Trump’s task focused on limiting damage to ensure he stays in battle. for his second world crown.
But the break of 97 in the seventh frame, followed by that nervous and controversial last frame of the session, left him in a good position on Sunday night.
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