Ronnie O’Sullivan has assumed a commanding position in his bid tobecome Irish Masters champion after a blinding display againstStephen Hendry in the first session of today’s final.
O’Sullivan, stripped of this title in 1998 after failing a post-matchdrugs test, leads the former world number one 5-2 and needs only fourmore frames to avenge his 1998 debacle.
O’Sullivan played a typically ferocious game, leaving hisopponent chair ridden for large periods of the afternoon.Despitehis rare table visits, Hendry has shown glimpses of form.
Trailing O’Sullivan 4-0 at the mid session interval, Hendry foughtback with brilliant breaks of 76 in the fifth and seventh frames tobridge the gap to 5-2.
Hendry, bidding to win this title for the fourth time, needs to findfurther improvement to dent the confidence of the charismatic Essexman.O’Sullivan has thrilled the packed auditorium with hiselectrifying style of play.
Breaks of 41 and 38 propelled the world number four into an early 2-0lead.A careless missed red by Hendry in the third frame allowedO’Sullivan another table winning visit.On a break of 39, he misseda simple red but another visit brought about a 60 break for a 99-28win.
O’Sullivan conjured up an animated show in the fourth frame, treatingthe spectators to a five minute blitz that yielded a break of 76 fora 4-0 lead at the mid session interval.
On resumption, Hendry was rewarded with a frame winning visit to thetable after an excellent pot on a tight red to bottom right.Heposted a break of 76 for a 76-6 win.
From there, the game offered a more appealing outlook. Hendry wasback in the equation but failed to impose his advantage from theprevious frame by succumbing to the wily Englishman’s ability toseize the initiative.
O’Sullivan posted an impressive break of 87 to take the sixth and a76 was sufficient in the seventh to remain three frames better offthan his Scottish opponent.Tonight’s session gets underway at 8pmwith a nine frame target for the prospective champion to aim at.