European Masters snooker final 2022 LIVE – Ronnie O'Sullivan faces underdog Fan Zhengyi for trophy

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His win against Kyren was big because it gave him confidence, and he didn't expect to beat Ronnie, so just went frame by frame, happy to win even one. He and the other young Chinese players practise together, eat together, and are like a family, pulling each other along. It was a dream come true to play Ronnie in the final, he's every Chinese players' idol and he's always so generous to them, helping them all the time, and they all want to learn from him.

"Fantastic player, brilliant", says Ronnie. He admits Fan was the better player all along, noting his quality in all aspects of the game and in handling pressure. He reckons Fan will be a world champ one day and says he, Yan Bingtao, and Zhao Xintong are pushing each other on. He goes on to say that if British snooker doesn't want to get left behind, it needs to do something about the grassroots game. He, meanwhile, is enjoying the occasions, and is pleased he competed despite playing poorly today.

Well done young man! He's been great this week, and in 20 years time we might look back on this night as when one of the greats came of age. Ronnie didn't play well, as he hasn't all week, but it's a tremendous effort from Fan, who's only 21, to see him off.

He was handed the chance, but Fan is taking these with such composure. Here comes match-ball, a red cut to left corner ... AND IT'S THERE! A blue follows, two snookers required now, then a red, and this is over!

This is brilliant stuff, a young man telling the world exactly what's up - it's moving and inspiring. Two reds with high-value colours, and Fan is there!

Nice from Fan who, by the way, has beaten some serious boys this week: Bingtao, Kyren Wilson, Dott and Gilbert. He's done a very swift job of parlaying this chance into a proper shy at taking f&m, and he's absolutely flying. But there's work to do...

Ronnie isn't going to let this frame happen, sizing up a long red to right-corner. He gets really close, but it stays up and this is a chance for Fan, reds and black available.

Ronnie goes in-off into left corner, trying to get safe down the business end. But he leaves nothing, so we're back playing safety ... until Ronnie blazes at one near the side cushion and left corner - it's a brilliant effort, but the ball jumps out of the jaws; Fan can't capitalise.

Ronnie's been good when he's really needed to be, but still isn't playing that well. The week comes down to the frame we're about to enjoy.

Oh yes! Ronnie clips a long one to the green pocket that no one saw coming, and though he can only play into the final red, Fan needs a snooker. If he can't get it, we'll have ourselves the decider we deserve.

It turns out Ronnie is pretty good at snooker. He crafts the run of a master, but has to figure out a way of splitting the final two reds. He can't, so it's off to baulk ... not it isn't, h3 catches the middle knuckle but leaves nowt.

For the seconde time tonight, Ronnie unfurls a glorious red just when he needs one, and this is a chance to score - at the very least.

This season, Fan has been in just one last 32 and last season, just one last 64. This breakthrough is a major surprise, and absolutely great to see .... but he's not going to consummate it at this visit, running out of position and playing safe.

Ronnie clatters a red to right corner and careers into the pack from below ... but he's not on much so tries to force the blue, going in-off. This is Fan's first chance to bring it home, and he looks ok with it. For now.

Ronnie tries a red to left corner, misses it, but gets a lovely white ball, punkt on the bottom cushion. Fan then gets a double kiss and Ronnie bags a goodun, only to wind up on nowt; it's in behind the yellow, and we're playing safety.

A run of 82, and Fan is one away! Can Ronnie force a decider?

Fan's not as fluent now as he was at the start of the night, when he made tons in the first two frames, but he's doing enough to get the balls down.

Left a simple opener, Ronnie sets himself away, and has the tide turned here? He splatters the pack everywhere, and if he can guide this pink to left-middle, everything is there for him. But he sends it into the far knuckle, and what a chance this is for Fan! There are reds everywhere!

Fan can't shake Ronnie off, and I've not a clue who's going to nick this.

Trying to drop in behind the brown - it's on the bottom rail - Ronnie misses the green. But he soon gets another go, caresses a brute to right-middle, and it's going to be a best of three!

Cannoning a mini-cluster, Ronnie has a very tight cut to left corner ... and gives it too much! Another chance for Fan! But he can't get onto a colour, leaves a tempter, and Ronnie clips it to right corner with dismissive alacrity. There's work to do, but also a strong chance he wins the frame from here.

It's getting to that point. Fan jawses a red to right corner, Ronnie's on one, and another potentially pivotal visit is upon us.

A poor safety from Ronnie, a double kiss, and Fan cues beautifully to sink a diagonal opener. There are points to be had here, and he's got a reserve red away in baulk.

This is intense, compelling stuff now, and Ronnie blocks the nearest red - off which Fan would like to play - with the green. He's struggling to find a ball to hit that won't leave a ball to pot, then rolls into the middle of the cluster and hopes. It's a good ploy! Ronnie can only play safe towards black cush, and this could be a pivotal exchange.

A sign of nerves? Fan ruffles a pack that needing handling, and that's end of break.

Ronnie hangs out a long tempter, and Fan clips it to right corner. But he can't parlay an opportunity, so we're back playing safety ... er, no we're not, Ronnie has just geniused a diagonal red to left corner! Just, though, as I'm wondering if he's hit a seam, he misses a red to the green pocket and now Fan can have at it!

Because he's so brilliant in the balls, we sometimes forget what a competitor Ronnie is, and a 107 just when he needed it has him right back at Fan.

This is bazzing stuff, just your classic Ronnie break: balls sent into the backs of pockets at speed, but without ever rushing, the puzzle of the frame unspooled with the simplicity of genius. It's absolutely kicking off here!

Fan takes on a long one and misses it thick, leaving the white down the business end; Ronnie slots a nasty red to left corner. And he's quickly into the pack, then stroking an oblique pot to right-middle. There was a decent break the frame before last, though he lost it, and perhaps he's coming into himself just in time. He is, though, only one error away from ruining all his hard work.

It's going for Fan at the moment. He's cueing nicely, and the balls are running for him; of Ronnie, the opposite is so.

Ronnie takes on a nasty little cut to left corner, the white near the side cushion. And not only does he miss it, but he develops a different red to make it pottable, and that could well be the frame!

Fan has been the better player pretty much all the way through the match and will be well worth a two-frame lead if that's what he gets. But he misses a red to right corner ... then Ronnie's called for brushing a ball with his cuff! There are four reds left, none of them immediately accessible.

Fan has a long think about which trick red to take, opting for a mid-distance red to right corner and massively overcutting it. But Ronnie can't capitalise - he just can't string things together for any length of time - and he narrowly misses a cross-double, leaving another chance. This time, Fan pots to right corner with the rest, and this is a bit of a chance.

Fan will be scenting opportunity here - Ronnie still isn't at it, and an unusually poor positional shot has him playing the next red as a shot to nothing; he gets nowhere near it, then Fan clips home another beautiful starter - "Dreamy!" says Angles in co-comms - and we might just be witnessing something here.

I really enjoy Fan's approach to the game - he takes on anything he thinks he should pot, without being wild. And he opens frame 14 with another fine longun, but gets no position, then leaves a chance for Ronnie with the black available into both corners.

That was a great frame. Ronnie will rue his missed opportunity, but when the question was asked, Fan answered it - eventually - with some sensational potting.

Aaarrgh! After some terrific work, Fan misses a regulation black to right corner, the first proper twitch of the match. But then Ronnie overscrews potting the green and misses the brown by plenty; will Fan try to cut to the green pocket? Yes he will, and down it goes! Oh yes! Then he absolutely punishes the blue into the yellow pocket, wriggles home the pink to left-middle, and he's in front!

Another fine pot, on the brown, goes unrewarded by position, then Fan sinks a proper starter to right corner only to undercut the black. No matter! He pots a gorgeous long red, taking the white diagonally across the table to tap in a ball parallel with the rail, and this break is going to be monstrous. If Fan can hold it down, that'll tell us plenty about where he's at right now.

He's soon in again, though, and plays three terrific pots consecutively, the second on a red to left-corner imparting a ridiculous amount of spin. He's not been in front since winning the first frame of the match, but after a fair bit of scrappiness, this is a very ronnie Break from Ronnie.

Best ever against a young tyro, final session, all-square: you can't ask for much more than that. And it's the former in first with a fine red to left corner, but with the unclustered reds on cushions, he soon plays safe down the table.

On the one hand, you feel like Fan might've missed his chance, on the other Ronnie's not played especially well all week so why's he about to start now? Join me after the mid-sesh, so in 15 minutes' time, for the staggering denouement!

A run of 47 ends with a missed yellow and Fan returning to the table needing a snooker. He drains the ball he's left, then has his first shy and it's a goodun ... but Ronnie escapes well.

Gosh, Fan misses a tight cut to middle - a big oversight given he didn't have to do much at all with the white. He leaves nothing, but it's Ronnie in next and this would be a colossal steal - this is developing into a crucial frame. And though he can't do anything at this visit, he begins another with a red rammed to right corner, so will now try to leve the match once again.

Then he gets in again, his third proper go at regaining a two-frame lead. and this looks like 7-5.

Fan clouts a long red to right corner, but just as he's getting settled, he tries to punch a bit of pocket on a blue to avoid the yellow, cannons it anyway and misses the pot. But he gets in next, only to find himself stuck behind the green, again off a blue - though the mistake here was not getting top-side of it to begin with. So he plays a decent escape that has Ronnie tapping the table before the balls are settled, and it doesn't quite have the gas to make it, but he gets there second go.

Yup, Ronnie closes the gap. But at some point, he needs to start playing.

Fan rolls a red to right-corner dead-weight, but trying to clip home a pink off the far middle knuckle, he misses, and Ronnie will surely sort this one from here.

Fan rattles a pot into the jaws and sends balls careering around the table, potting two reds! Decent. He's on the yellah nicely too, and works his way up to the business end after tidying one up in baulk. But then he too misses to left-middle, so we're back playing safety.

Ronnie is thinking his way through this break beautifully, but as I type that and as things are resolving themselves, he cracks a red to left-middle and the power takes it out of the jaws! This frame remains far from over.

Ronnie gets in first and could really do with winning this one. The way the balls are, that might be hard to achieve at this visit, but there are enough free for him to take control of the frame.

Sometimes you watch a young player in a big game, and they just force themselves upon it, their talent uncontainable. We might just be seeing that now, because Fan has taken another frame with another ton, 100 this time. He is playing perfectly.

Fan lives with Si Jiahui, who won the world amateur championships today - could be a decent night round theirs. Watch out Sheffield!

This is, once again, excellent from Fan, who's really composed out there and able to just play his natural game. This would be a significant steal.

But a double kiss attempting a split soon takes him out of position - though it also saves him, because otherwise, the white was going down right corner. Then, reluctant to work out a safety shot, Ronnie hammers a hopeful long one and doesn't get the white back into baulk. As such, Fan is away!

Ronnie is complaining that the photographer doesn't have a tripod - a regular bugbear. The matter is soon resolved, then after a short bout of safety, Fan leaves one short and Ronnie gobbles it up.

That is a magnificent start from Fan, who calmly despatches a 135, the highest break of his career. He is for real.

This is already a tremendous run, a red rattled into right corner getting Angles purring. There's no reason to think he won't secure the frame at this visit.

Ronnie finishes a complaint about something or other, then leaves a red free of the pack which Fan strokes it nicely to left corner; that'll settle him right doon. He'll know that he missed a chance this afternoon, but will also know that if he was the better player once he can be the better player again, and he's looking confident among the balls.

Will Fag win his first ranking title, or will Ronnie win his 39th? Let's find out!

We are set!

We will be back around 6:45pm with more LIVE updates as O'Sullivan chases his 39th ranking title in his 60th final. World No 80 Fan well in the hunt for his first.

Has not clicked into gear for most of this final, but O'Sullivan still level with a break of 83. A brilliant break. Some amusing interaction between O'Sullivan, the referee and the crowd.

He urges them to stay still on the shot, but perhaps an indication of struggles to find his true form. Does well to escape all square at 4-4. They will resume at 7pm with first man to 10 claiming the title.

Slowly but surely creeping towards the finishing line in this frame. Has potted some fine balls using reds and blues. Up to 50, his highest break of the final.

Double kiss on a red by Fan attempting a long pot. Leaves easy enough first pot for O'Sullivan using the rest. Black tied up at the moment so will use blue to score from.

O'Sullivan would dearly love to escape from this session on level terms. His highest break still only 47 in the final.

The Fan miss on black could yet haunt him in this final. Such a pivotal moment when he looked set to move three frames clear.

Well, looked for all the world like 5-2, but Fan misses black off the spot late in the frame. O'Sullivan then earns a free ball after Fan fails to escape from a snooker on yellow. The Rocket opts to take on a tough blue as free ball which he sinks by stroking home. A fine clearance up to the pink stops the rot. Back to 4-3 behind with chance to level final before the second session tonight.

Fan with another chance to compile a few points in this seventh frame after O'Sullivan escapes from a snooker, but leaves the red.

O'Sullivan faced with a testing blue to yellow pocket. Negotiates that hurdle well. These pots are quite hard to come by. And he is again forced to declare on 37. Patience required at this juncture.

Real classy safety shot by the Rocket prompts a Fan error. A few cries of "Go on Ronnie." What an opportunity this is..

Fan has been relishing those long-range reds with hand on table. Tucks one away early on in the penultimate frame of the session before suffering an unkind kiss. Could have been on blue, but just the safety shot to follow.

Fan again gets himself ahead in this frame. Looks completely at one with the balls during these breaks. And will move 4-2 to the good. O'Sullivan's struggles go on in this final. A run of 78 more than enough for the younger man.

Just a 28 that time from the tournament favourite. Still yet to find his scoring boots before he misses another long red by yards. The struggle continues for the Rocket.

Early days still in this final, but perhaps O'Sullivan will start to heed the warning signs. Really needs to go up a few gears which we know he is capable of when the mood takes him. Sound opening red to get access to the table early in this sixth frame.

O'Sullivan forced to sit and admire the younger man go to work. He is without a 50 plus break in this match, but Fan rolls in 63 to go with his 57 in the third frame. O'Sullivan's high break only 47. World No 80 leads 3-2 in Milton Keynes.

This is another obvious chance for the underdog out there. Could he be moving 3-2 clear? O'Sullivan not reaching the levels that saw him coast into this final.

Decent plant by Fan followed by a swerve to tickle in black. Almost like a Masse shot there. Just a safety to follow, but O'Sullivan leaves a red over a baulk pocket seconds later. The Rocket just not settling out there. Which is good news for Fan fans.

Both players continuing to make basic errors. So many misses. Astonishing to think these are the two form players of the week. Surely this can't continue, but O'Sullivan butchers another long shot. 1/6 success rate from distance so far.

So this final yet to catch fire. Neither player looking overly assured, but Fan will be happier to have a foothold in this contest. All square at 2-2 with four more frames to play this afternoon in the first session.

Looking good here to level at 2-2 as break moves to 47. Much more like it from the six-time world champion even if he is not attaining peak powers. Fan needs one snooker.

One more frame before the mid-session interval. O'Sullivan looking to start moving in this final. Should make a few at this visit.

O'Sullivan's highest break in first three frames is only 33. By his standards, very poor.

Dreadful shot by O'Sullivan during the safety joust. Leaves the yellow hanging over a pocket that Fan nudges home before scrambling over the line minutes later. O'Sullivan looking very subdued at the outset of this match. Scrappy old frame, but the Chinese player edges it for a 2-1 lead.

Rocket slots red and blue, but snookers himself on the yellow. Just the safety shot coming up via a side cushion. Does well to get himself out of trouble.

Fan makes a break of 57 from that O'Sullivan error. In goes red and blue. Needs one more red to leave O'Sullivan needing snookers, but just fails to slot it along top cushion. Life in this frame yet.

O'Sullivan makes 26, but runs out of position before playing a forgettable safety shot. Tried to roll up to the reds, but gets it all wrong and leaves Fan an easy enough opener.

Fan tries his luck with a long red, but well off the potting angle on that occasion. First decent chance of frame falls to the World No 2.

O'Sullivan had chance of a counter attack, but missed blue to green pocket buried those ambitions and Fan over the line in three scoring visits. He gets off the mark in this final, the biggest match of his fledgling career. Nice to settle the nerves.

Looking good for Fan to restore parity in this match at 1-1 as a pink dives down a middle hole.

Superb long red by Fan early in the second frame. Trademark shot from him this week with the long game working well. Chance to score a few points at this visit.

Fan with the break off in the second frame. Eight frames this afternoon and a possible 10 this evening. First man to 10 becomes champion.

Rocket Ronnie is going to win this first frame. Nothing spectacular, but solid enough to move 1-0 clear with a couple of scoring visits.

O'Sullivan hits another red attempting to pot a red. Didn't account for that. Frame still alive, but Fan misses a tough cut on a black along the top cushion.

Bit of a safety bout. O'Sullivan has not faced a player inside the world's top 25 this week. Tom Ford at 26 was the highest ranked player, who he defeated 5-1 in the last eight. Fan is World No 80. O'Sullivan returns to the table after the young Chinese player can't hole a red to a baulk pocket.

O'Sullivan slots a red from mid-range in the opening frame. Nice pot to get the cue arm working.

O'Sullivan breaks off in this first frame of the day. Plenty of vocal support behind O'Sullivan as you would expect.

Both men chasing their first European Masters title at the Marshall Arena. O'Sullivan starts as 1/7 favourite with World No 80 Fan priced as an 11/2 outsider, but the former World U21 champion has enjoyed victories over Kyren Wilson and David Gilbert to reach the final. Certainly not to be underestimated in his first meeting with the snooker GOAT.

Boys will be on the baize at around 1pm GMT. Six-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan is remarkably appearing in a 60th career ranking event final, chasing his 39th ranking title and second of the season following his 10-8 victory against Neil Robertson at the World Grand Prix in December.

Standing between him and the £80,000 first prize is 21-year-old Fan Zhengyi, who is contesting his first major final following a 6-4 victory over 2006 world champion Graeme Dott in the semi-finals.

O'Sullivan hits two centuries in a 6-2 win against Liang Wenbo to reach the final on Saturday evening.

“It may be a surprise to see Fan in the final, but it was a surprise when I got to the UK final at 17, so everyone has to cause a surprise at some point," said O'Sullivan.

"I think Tiger Woods did that winning his first green jacket at the Masters. But people I respect in Sheffield say he is a very good player."

Ronnie O'Sullivan booked his place in Sunday's European Masters final after seeing of Liang Wenbo with a 6-2 win in Milton Keynes.

It was a masterclass from the 38-time ranking event winner who reeled off five consecutive frames and looked his very best at times with two centuries and near-impeccable potting.

O'Sullivan lost the first frame of the match after running out of position on a run of 54, letting Liang in for the steal with plenty of points left on the table. And the Chinese star took it, sinking the remaining reds and putting together a break of 74 that cancelled out O'Sullivan´s half century.

But a run of 81 was enough to bring O'Sullivan level as he left Liang ruing an easy missed yellow early on in the frame. And from then onwards it was one-way traffic.

Read more here

Fan Zhengyi progressed to the final of the European Masters with a gutsy 6-4 win over veteran Graeme Dott.

It is Fan's first ranking final on the tour, building on his excellent quarter-final finish at this year's German Masters in January.

He had never previously made it past the first round of the tournament but the 21-year-old was composed as he held off a late fightback from 44-year-old former world champion Dott.

Read more here

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