O'Sullivan leaves best till last

Snooker:  Ronnie O'Sullivan scored a 147 break in the 20th frame of his 888.com World Championship match against Mark Williams, to win the match 13-7 this afternoon.

O'Sullivan punched the air in delight after completing the stunning clearance to seal a 13-7 victory over Mark Williams.

It was only the seventh maximum at the venue - O'Sullivan has now made three of them - and earns the Englishman a bonus of £147,000 (€187,000) as well as £10,000 (€12,700) for the highest break.

O'Sullivan joked afterwards to former world champion Steve Davis on BBC2: "Is it only £157,000?

"It was more important to win the game but it gives me a few more choices in he summer. I'll be getting a Bentley GT Convertible now - I've been dying for one.

"It's never going to be easy against someone from the same era. I know Mark is going through a lean spell but we've had so many tough matches and I always give him maximum respect.

"He's a fantastic player. The standard has got so high - but it was a good match to be involved in really."

He continued: "The difference between this year and the previous 13 is that I am keeping my discipline and being patient.

"If things go wrong I do not hit completely disastrous standards - and that's the most important thing."

After trailing Chinese debutant Liang Wenbo 6-2 overnight, Joe Swail won five of eight frames this morning and is 9-7 down ahead of this evening's session.

© 2008 The Irish Times