O'Sullivan's antics fail to tip balance

Snooker World Championship: Those who expected Ronnie O'Sullivan to convert his 5-3 overnight lead over Graeme Dott into a commanding advantage in their best-of-33-frames semi-final of the World Championship were confounded by the gritty and underestimated Scot levelling at 8-8 and left to ponder a bizarre afternoon.

It looks likely someone will find the Holy Grail before O'Sullivan finds a cue tip to satisfy him. The twice world champion claims to have tried 14 in the last two weeks.

Yesterday, he gave another its first public outing only to lift it off with his thumb in the sixth frame to claim the permitted 15 minutes time out to affix another. Steve Davis and John Parrott, both former world champions, questioned the propriety of this. A tip working loose accidentally is one thing, one deliberately removed, another.

Dott was oblivious, clearing with 66 to level at 7-7.

On his return to the arena O'Sullivan dashed off a break of 124 to regain the lead, 8-7, and appeared to be on his way to another century until he missed on 49.

Dott, admirably composed, cleared to pink with 74 to level at 8-8 but his displeasure at the interruption was made evident by extending his left hand to O'Sullivan for the customary handshake in mimicry of the left-handed handshake O'Sullivan has adopted since he began suffering twinges in his right wrist some months ago.

Any ticket holders deterred from taking their seats for the resumption of the Peter Ebdon v Marco Fu semi-final by its turgid opening session missed a treat. Ebdon played superbly; Fu managed to steal two late frames to restrict his arrears to 9-7 going into last evening's penultimate session.

Ebdon then won the opening four frames of the evening session and there was little Fu could do to halt the tide. The tone was set in the first frame of the evening when Ebdon knocked in a superb 122 clearance.

Ebdon ended the night leading 15-9, to leave Fu with a mountain to climb in his bid to become the first Asian to reach the world final. The match resumes today at 2.30pm.

Guardian Service

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