snooker.org: Thailand Open 1995 (original) (raw)

Ronnie O'Sullivan showed a ruthless streak as he ended Stephen Hendry's hopes with a 5-2 victory. He polished off the world champion helped by breaks of 100, 91, 85 and 55. He said: "I've had a habit of getting too familiar with people in matches. This time I decided to hate Stephen until it was over."

Before yesterday's match, Cliff Thorburn had won only three of his fifteen matches against Steve Davis. He said: "I'm proud to have beaten the best player I've ever seen."

Defending champion James Wattana won the last three frames to beat Willie Thorne 5-4. In the eighth frame, he compiled a break of 101 and it was his 100th century of his professional career. Willie Thorne also made a century, a 112 in frame four, and it was his 98th since he turned professional in 1975.

On his way to the match, Peter Ebdon spent half an hour trapped in a lift at Bangkok's Imperial Queens Park Hotel. But he was freed in plenty of time before the match and rattled up breaks of 88, 57 and 53 to beat Ken Doherty 5-2.

Quarter-finals

Losers receiving 1520 pts

WATTANA (3) bt Wilkinson (22) 5-0
Frame Scores: 71-50, 71-47, 47-39, 72(67)-48, 81(76)-11

Johnston-Allen (44) bt D MORGAN (8) 5-4

O'SULLIVAN (9) bt EBDON (10) 5-1

Thorburn (54) bt DRAGO (16) 5-4
Frame Scores: 56-45, 71-27, 53-70(70), 73-36, 81-23, 48-86(72), 60-67, 29-82, 68-48

Ronnie O'Sullivan has claimed a place in the last four at three ranking semis this year but so far has lost in his previous attempts. He said: "Perhaps it's third time lucky. I must have a great chance now of winning."

Mark Johnston-Allen reached the third semi-final of his preofessional career with his 5-4 win over Darren Morgan.

The veteran Candadian Cliff Thorburn booked a semi-final clash withRonnie O'Sullivan after holding off Tony Drago 5-4. He's now aiming for his first final since the Fidelity International in 1987.

Semi-finals

Losers receiving 2025 pts

WATTANA (3) bt Johnston-Allen (44) 5-1
Frame Scores: 114(63,51)-0, 4-76, 88(88)-0, 73-32, 74-52, 66(50)-1

O'SULLIVAN (9) bt Thorburn (54) 5-0
Frame Scores: 141(88)-0, 80(80)-1, 78(69)-35, 72-67(50), 74(58)-47

Ronnnie O'Sullivan took only 90 minutes to reach his first ranking event final of the season. "I've put a lot of hard work in at the practice table out here and it's paid off," said O'Sullivan. Thorburn, who appeared in his first semi-final for four years, said: "Despite the coreline, it was a pleasure to play against someone so talented as Ronnie."

THE FINAL

Loser receiving 2700 pts. Winner receiving 3600.

WATTANA (3) bt O'SULLIVAN (9) 9-6
Frame Scores: 90(90)-34, 61-39, 67-5, 71-51, 39-86, 71(71)-31 , 41-76, 85-0, 0-80, 37-69, 43-62, 62(55)-56(50), 134(63,71)-0, 0-96(89), 94(76)-1