2001 Shot of the Championships

www.alex0paul.blogspot.com

The shot of the championships competition during the 2001 Embassy World Championships.

John Higgins 14-18 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Ronnie O'Sullivan clinched his first World Championship title after a thrilling 18-14 victory over John Higgins at The Crucible.

The 25-year-old produced some moments of breathtaking snooker - fully appreciated by the partisan crowd in Sheffield - to take snooker's top prize.

The "Essex Exocet" finally got his hands on the trophy when Higgins missed an all-important red after making a break of 45 in the 32nd frame.

O'Sullivan then went on to clear the table to collect the £250,000 winner's cheque - and the one title that evaded his mentor Jimmy White.

The victory was made the more sweeter considering the personal problems O'Sullivan has had to overcome over the past few years.

His rollercoaster snooker career has seen him threaten to quit the game for good.

But his new-found mental strength has helped him capture the world title he so badly coveted.

The Rocket dominated from the early stages of the 35-frame final against the 1998 champion.

He signalled his intentions within the first five frames, taking a 4-1 lead.

But he coupled his infamous attacking game with deft safety play, displaying all the virtues of a true all-round champion.

In front of Crucible crowd including former boxing world champion Naseem Hamed and Rolling Stones' guitarist Ronnie Wood, O'Sullivan produced some of his best snooker of the championship.

But Higgins, to his credit, produced a resilient performance and kept up the pressure when O'Sullivan made the rare mistake.

But the Scot will rue a crucial red missed in the 30th frame after notching a break of 60.

His miss allowed O'Sullivan to take the frame for a 17-13 lead, a platform which eventually helped him to take the 32nd frame - and the world title.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• snooker
• ronnie
• o'sullivan
• john
• higgins
• joe
• swail
• matthews
• stevens
• crucible
• theatre
• football
• rugby
• sport
• bbc
• steve
• davis

[adibeh]

ronnie is a legand,,but i was wounder,,who's better,,ronnie in hes prime or davis in hes prime

[Alex0paul]

Neither. Stephen Hendry is the greatest.

[brothersfor]

the half is made by rhe rocket LOL ... best player ever

[lizzie699]

the rocket dominates

[sshakababy]

@DoctorSnooker Dennis was right. He couldn't take the pot on because it was very difficult and most probably he would've missed it with no idea where the cue ball might end up.

[bogdychamp]

@jambamz Higgins is nothing but a Cheating Bastard to me. As 4 Hendry, I don't hate him.I hate the fact that he has won everything (prize, money, fame ) and he's still obsessed with winning . He should only play attacking shots to entertain the crowd, no safety shots at all. He wouldn't win , but he has won enough already.He should just enjoy the game.

[jambamz]

@bogdychamp right so now he bribed the snooker powers! dear fucking god man listen to yourself, fact is matey your probably some ronnie fan who cant stand the man, bet youve got negative comments on hendryu vids as well, or is that you quinten? lol dude the guys still in the game and will be when ronnie and a few others of his generation aint, oh plus did I mention, HE 'S WORLD CHAMP!

[bogdychamp]

@jambamz he bribed the snooker body to get away with it . That and the fact that he was a very important player helped the scumbag Higgins tho get away with it. Quinten Han got a 8 year ban for a similar incident.

[jambamz]

@bogdychamp yawn, no and neither have you, not all of it anyway. the snooker body has though, and he's back in the game AND world champ, so fuck off

[bogdychamp]

@jambamz u are the biggest retard in human history.

Are u that stupid ???? Can anybody be that dum ? Haven't u watched the video ????

Higgins is a CHEATING SCUM BAG and a PIECE OF SHIT.

[bogdychamp]

Fuck u , u retard. Ronnie would wipe the floor with Hendry and Davis combined.

[MrPlaystation95]

@Alex0paul i agree

[stitcha123]

hahaha, steve looks genuinely destroyed at the end!

[Tabish29]

Higgins's was the most unbelievable for me. Wicked pot and breaks out the red as well. Jeez.