How O'Sullivan sparked golden season with not going Shanghai Masters victory

Ronnie O’Sullivan loved some of the greatest seasons of his gilded 32-year snooker profession final yr as he claimed 5 primary titles throughout a memorable 2023/24 marketing campaign.

The snooker GOAT gained the Shanghai Masters, UK Championship, Masters, Global Grand Prix and the Riyadh Season Global Masters in Saudi Arabia and likewise reached the general of the Excursion Championship.

However O’Sullivan can in all probability glance again on his win over outdated rival John Higgins within the Shanghai Masters quarter-finals because the victory which sparked his superb silverware splurge.

Trailing 5-2 and suffering for shape, Higgins had the risk to peer out the win within the 8th body.

However breaking down on 52 main 58-0 proved so pricey as O’Sullivan abruptly got here roaring again to pinch the body at the red earlier than finishing a memorable 6-5 good fortune, completing with breaks of 100 and 130 earlier than a bewitched crowd of locals within the Chinese language town.

The lengthy crimson he potted to get the ball rolling on his match-winning clearance was once an elegant pot underneath intense power.

“He must have put me away actually,” mentioned O’Sullivan. “He had sufficient possibilities, he was once 5-2 up and in keep watch over of the sport and uncharacteristically for John, he did not end it off and I feel from there he were given a little bit bit disillusioned with himself, however I did not be expecting to do the rest as a result of I used to be actually terrible.”

O’Sullivan improved to conquer Mark Selby 10-7 within the semi-finals and Luca Brecel 11-9 within the ultimate as he added to victories on the match in 2009, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

It was once an indication of items to come back for the remainder of the yr with O’Sullivan extending his unbeaten run in Shanghai to 18 suits since 2017.

He’s line to stand Global Championship winner Zhang Anda in his event opener within the final 16.