Date:02/05/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/05/02/stories/2004050201201900.htm

Sport - Billiards & Snooker

O'Sullivan routs Hendry

SHEFFIELD, MAY 1. Ronnie O'Sullivan completed a crushing 17-4 victory over Stephen Hendry on Saturday to reach the World championship final.

The match was effectively over as a contest when O'Sullivan posted a 13-3 lead on Friday with a devastating performance and he continued to dominate the record seven-times World champion.

The Englishman, World champion in 2001, took three out of the opening four frames and sealed his first win over Hendry at the Crucible with a session to spare.

"It's nice to have been able to do it against someone of Stephen's quality," O'Sullivan told a news conference. "It was a good performance and I was pleased with it."

O'Sullivan will meet Graeme Dott or Matthew Stevens in the final. Dott led Stevens 13-11 after three sessions on Friday.

"They're both great players," he said. "Matthew's got a great record at the Crucible and Graeme's a tenacious player."

Hendry admitted he had failed to provide O'Sullivan with a real test.

"You beat Ronnie by putting him under pressure and I wasn't able to do that," Hendry said.

"He was just too good and it was a demolition job. You've just got to sit there and admire the way he plays."

Hendry believes O'Sullivan is the overwhelming favourite to win the final.

"If he plays like that, he'll walk it," the Scot said. "It'll be a brave man to back against him."

The scores (semifinals): Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Stephen Hendry 17-4 (86-17, 16-61, 81-0, 68-42, 127(127 break)-0, 68-0, 98-39, 0-85, 81-6, 92-0, 71-0, 117(117 break)-9, 78-36, 63-21, 79-0, 49-66, 71-0, 48-75, 74-33, 93-24, 79-0)