Third title for O'Sullivan
No need for fireworks as 'Rocket' wraps up final
Last updated: 5th May 2008
Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the 888.com World Championship crown for the third time with a comfortable 18-8 success over Ali Carter at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre.
'The Rocket' needed only two frames of Monday's evening session to add to the titles he won in 2001 and 2004.
And not even the presence of a male streaker, who entered the auditorium at the start of the final session and spread-eagled himself under the match table, could spoil O'Sullivan's victory march.
The 32-year-old was never seriously tested in a low-key affair which came on the back of his stunning performance against seven-times winner Stephen Hendry in their semi-final.
O'Sullivan has again proved a controversial figure this season - a lewd outburst during the recent China Open prompting him to issue an apology - but has nevertheless ended the 2007-08 campaign as only the fourth player to complete snooker's most coveted treble.
He joins Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams in winning the UK Championship and the world title in addition to clinching the number one spot in the rankings in the same season.
O'Sullivan also becomes the first player to be world number one on three separate occasions, having previously peformed the feat in 2002-03 and then again from 2004-06.
The Essex player has also topped the prize money list for the fifth season running in earning £638,350 from nine tournaments - including the £250,000 prize for winning the world title.
Hendry made £740,194 in season 1994-95 but that came from 15 tournaments.
Alongside Carter - playing in his first ranking final - he also earned a half share of the maximum break prize of £157,000.
Accolade
Yet another accolade comes with O'Sullivan becoming only the second player - after Hendry - to register 50 centuries in a season.
O'Sullivan headed into the second day of the final with the knowledge that the 11-5 lead he held over Carter had never previously been overhauled.
But what Carter may live to regret is that O'Sullivan never produced - or needed to produce - the sort of play he had shown in demolishing Hendry 17-6 in the semis.
O'Sullivan had beaten Carter in each of their previous eight meetings and was content to simply do the job required of him - without the need for fireworks.
He acknowledged as much, telling BBC Sport: "I'm just happy to have won, it was tough.
"When you get ahead you are always thinking at the back of your mind, if you lose it from here it is going to be a killer.
"Sometimes it is better when it is closer, sometimes when trying to protect a lead it is hard.
"I wasn't playing fantastic every session, but you don't need to be to win this. It is about doing it in some sessions.
"Ali and I are disappointed not to put on a better performance but we love the pressure and excitement at The Crucible."
Nevertheless, O'Sullivan still managed to compile one century and 10 other scores over 50.
Disappointed
But former practice partner Carter will be disappointed to have failed to make the most of several decent opportunities.
In fact, the final looked like a match too far for Carter, who appeared to have little momentum left after a gruelling fortnight's journey to the final.
After winning Monday afternoon's session 5-3, O'Sullivan produced a break of 69 in frame 25 to leave Carter needing snookers.
And it was all over in the next after Carter missed a blue into the middle pocket, to let in O'Sullivan to seal victory.
Carter, whose performances in Sheffield have helped him rise to number seven in the world, added: "I am pleased to get to the final. I am disappointed not to perform at my best but it is very tiring.
"Ronnie made it very difficult. He safety was brilliant and the better man won on the day.
"The top eight in the world, a maximum and the final of the World Championship - I would have taken that at the start."
