Ronnie O’Sullivan needed Lemsip, but Wenbo left nursing huge headache after suffering China crisis
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Updated 15/01/2017 at 23:41 GMT
Cold-ridden Ronnie O'Sullivan was left wondering how he is still in the Masters after completing a 6-5 win over Liang Wenbo, who missed a black that will be recalled as one of sport's epic twitches under pressure, writes Desmond Kane.
Liang Wenbo after Masters defeat - picture Tai Chengzhe/World Snooker.
Image credit: Eurosport
The years roll by in the small, rampaging and slightly eccentric bubble of the snooker world, at a quicker pace than it takes for Ronnie O’Sullivan to rustle up a century.
It is difficult to believe that it has been a decade since O’Sullivan, professional sport’s ultimate, unpredictable crowd pleaser, had to help a tearful teenage Ding Junhui control his emotions as a raucous crowd with a nasty edge had turned the atmosphere at the 2007 Masters final into scenes more akin to championship boxing.
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'O'Sullivan thought it was over!' - Wenbo misses sitter to clinch match
The London crowd following the people’s champion did not take kindly to 19-year-old Ding from the People’s Republic of China trying to upset their anointed son from Essex at Wembley Arena. In those pre-Brexit days of yore, someone had disgracefully called for Ding’s exit.
“Go home to China,” was the alleged cry before an inebriated green baize diehard was ejected in shame.
O’Sullivan warmly embraced Ding after a 10-3 success, the third of his six Masters titles, who was not used to such obvious disrespect back then. It is fair to say Liang Wenbo, China’s second ranked player behind Ding, is not used to it now.
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O'Sullivan sinks brilliant long red in Masters opener
Wenbo was appearing at only his second Masters event after losing to John Higgins in the first round a year ago, but facing O’Sullivan on opening day at the sport's most prestigious invitational event is a different assignment when the Rocket's fans prepare for lift off.
Amid the rain ambushing Alexandra Palace on Sunday afternoon, was the smell of lager and some teeming Londoners out in the elements to support their man.
Wenbo – he prefers that moniker to Liang – had probably been the sharper player against an opponent struggling to shake off the effects of a virus.
He seemed likely to complete a 6-4 win from trailing 4-2 when the tournament favourite O’Sullivan missed a pink ball to a centre pocket late in the penultimate frame.
The English Open champion Wenbo cleared to the pink, but apparently failed to settle on a black along the top cushion before the match ball wriggled out.
Cue a noise of appreciation that only dear old Jimmy White could rival when he was a clear and present danger amid the fug of Benson and Hedges fag smoke three decades ago as a rueful Ronnie potted black to force the decider.
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O'Sullivan picks out a magical green
Wenbo had barely time to reflect upon his miss as O’Sullivan embarked upon a trademark, quickfire winning clearance of 121 in the next to seal a fortuitous if unlikely place in the last eight with a 6-5 victory.
Wenbo's twitch was one of epic proportions that seems to blight snooker and golf more than other sports because these are curious games where easy misses can easily be manufactured by a nervous mind.
Think Doug Sanders failing to hole a tiddler to win the 1970 Open golf championship or Scott Hoch in the 1989 Masters play-off with Nick Faldo, and you get Wenbo's world of pain.
“You’ve got to feel for Liang, he should have won that match,” said O’Sullivan. “I don’t know how I won that match.
“A win is a win. He should have put me away a bit easier. I managed to nick a few (frames) through experience maybe.
I feel that I’ve got a bug. I feel lethargic and tired. It is a struggle to compete never mind try to win a match in the most highly competitive tournament we have.When he was on the black, I was thinking of getting home for an early night, maybe get a bit of Lemsip down me and come back to do a bit of punditry work in the evening.
O’Sullivan duly gave Wenbo the hug he had reserved for Ding a decade ago after promptly awaking from his slumber to clear the table with an imperious century with his opponent, a bloke who is sometimes his snooker sparring partner in practice, looking slightly dazed.
He will face Neil Robertson or Ali Carter in the last eight requiring three more wins to usurp Stephen Hendry as the greatest champion of the Masters with seven titles to his name.
He will again be backed by just under 2,000 animated members of the O’Sullivan army. Even the remote location of a windswept Ally Pally overlooking London fails to deter some gnarled characters who trudge up the hill to the venue in hope of O'Sullivan obliterating the opposition.
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Liang Wenbo and Ronnie O'Sullivan at the Masters - picture Tai Chengzhe
Image credit: Eurosport
“I’ve never been one to use the crowd to my advantage,” said O’Sullivan, who also ran in 55, 89 and 80 while being well off optimum form.
“Everybody seems to be ill at this time of the year with colds and viruses, but I can get over it and if I play all right, I might have a little chance."
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O’Sullivan seals win with 121 clearance
Liang was philosophical after watching what would have arguably been his finest hour, and only his second win over O'Sullivan in eight matches. His most protruding success was snatched from the jaws of victory. By his lack of composure in the moment. It must hurt.
"It is a learning experience," he said.
I had chances to win this match with that black, I was ready to pot the ball. You have to learn all the time. Every shot is different, and maybe next time will be different.
“I should have played it a little bit quicker."
Good news for the sponsors that O'Sullivan survives, bad news for the world number 11 Liang to let it happen.
While O’Sullivan headed home for an early night having lived to fight another day, one suspects Liang’s China crisis might last longer than a 48-hour dose of the sniffles.
There is no immediate cure for such a public bout of the blues. Or in this case, blacks.
Desmond Kane at Alexandra Palace
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