Ronnie O'Sullivan Grinds Into First Ranking Final in Two Years After Nail-Biting Decider

The Rocket Refuses to Fizzle Out

At 50 years old, most people are thinking about slowing down. Ronnie O'Sullivan, characteristically, has other plans. The seven-time world champion has battled his way into the World Open final in Yushan, China, edging past Wu Yize 6-5 in a semi-final that had absolutely no interest in being straightforward.

It marks O'Sullivan's first ranking final since he lifted the World Grand Prix trophy back in January 2024, when he dispatched Judd Trump 10-7. That is roughly 26 months without a ranking final appearance, which by his ludicrous standards practically counts as a sabbatical.

A Deciding Frame for the Ages

The semi-final was anything but a procession. Wu Yize, to his enormous credit, pushed O'Sullivan to the absolute limit. The young Chinese player produced breaks of 77, 86, and a superb 134 to keep himself firmly in contention throughout.

O'Sullivan responded with efforts of 86, 78, 97, and 118, but it was the deciding frame that truly showcased why he remains box office. Trailing 43-0 and staring down the barrel, he conjured a counter clearance of 89 to pinch the match. The audacity of it. Forty-one ranking titles and over 1,320 career centuries, yet he still finds new ways to make you sit up in your chair.

The 153 in the Room

As dramatic as the semi-final was, it was arguably not even the most remarkable thing O'Sullivan did this week. In the quarter-finals, he demolished Ryan Day 5-0 and, almost casually, produced a break of 153, the highest in professional snooker history.

To put that in context: the previous record was Jamie Burnett's 148, set in UK Championship qualifying way back in 2004. O'Sullivan did not just nudge past it; he obliterated it by five points.

The break came courtesy of the free-ball rule. O'Sullivan nominated green as an extra red, potting it for one point followed by the black for seven. From there, he cleared the 15 reds (with 13 blacks and two pinks) before polishing off the six colours. The maths works out at a cool 153. For a man who already holds 17 career maximum 147 breaks, finding a way to go even higher feels almost greedy.

What Happens Next

Sunday's final pits O'Sullivan against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in a best-of-19 encounter, with £175,000 on the line for the winner. Un-Nooh earned his spot by beating world number one Judd Trump 6-4 in the other semi-final, a result that raised more than a few eyebrows.

The Thai player, 40, is no stranger to fast, attacking snooker, so this final could be genuinely entertaining. Whether he can sustain that approach over 19 frames against O'Sullivan at his most stubborn remains the big question.

Why This Matters

O'Sullivan's 2025/26 season has not exactly been his finest. A run to a ranking final at this stage, particularly with the World Championship looming in April, suggests the timing could not be better. A 42nd ranking title would extend his own record further into territory nobody else is likely to reach.

The World Open is the third-last ranking event of the season, and for O'Sullivan, it feels like the form is arriving right on cue. Whether that is calculated or coincidental, only he knows. Either way, Sunday should be well worth watching on TNT Sports or Discovery+.

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