O'Sullivan grabs draw in spicy encounter in Brentwood - 07/10/2010

RONNIE O'Sullivan drew his Premier League grudge encounter with Shaun Murphy in the latest round of matches.

In the build-up to this tie, Murphy had criticised O'Sullivan after the Rocket had contemplated failing to complete a 147 break with only one ball left in a World Open tie.

O'Sullivan, angry at there only being a £4,000 prize for a maximum break, nearly walked away and had to be talked into potting the final black by the referee.

Murphy labelled O'Sullivan's actions as 'offensive', 'pathetic' and 'unprofessional' to give this match added spice.

It produced a terrific clash at the Brentwood Centre, although O'Sullivan, who snatched a 3-3 draw with a stunning 110 break in the last frame, tried to defuse the situation.

"A needle match? You don't play snooker with needle - you just play the balls and the table," insisted O'Sullivan.

"I like playing Shaun and he plays a nice game. I find it harder playing the slower, boring players and then I get the needle because I can't get to the table.

"We all say things - look at the things I've said in the past, but it's a pleasure to play Shaun.

“Papers twist and turn things but I take things with a pinch of salt and find it quite funny. Every interview from snooker people is about me.

"Ten years ago it would’ve made me more determined as I was a bit more of a competitive animal but now I’m playing more for enjoyment."

“I was pleased to see all the words were spelt correctly," joked Murphy about the story which appeared in The Sun yesterday. “The papers do twist things but I didn’t like what went on at the World Open and was asked my opinion. Last time I checked, it was still ok in this country to voice your opinions.

“I also did say what a great guy Ronnie is and the game is better with him than without him.

"It was great to play the best player of the game in the last ten years.”

O'Sullivan stole the first frame of the night at the Brentwood Centre in front of his home crowd in Essex.

But Murphy would be left kicking himself as he was 52-0 ahead and had a frame-winning shot but missed a brown off the spot as O'Sullivan edged the frame by five points.

Murphy stormed through the second and made 90, although he missed the pink as the £1,000 bonus for the century break was looming.

However, O'Sullivan was back to his best in the third as he rattled in an excellent break of 93 before, just like Murphy, he faltered in the 90s as he overcut the final red.

As expected in this match, which featured both of the finalists from the 2009 Premier League, it was a high-quality encounter. Murphy smashed in a score of 71 to level the scores at 2-2 with two frames left.

In the next frame, Murphy was at the table but 12 points behind and snookered himself with only five balls left. However, O'Sullivan, using the rest but with it held in the air and not on the cloth, failed to pot a green and Murphy moved 3-2 in front.

But O'Sullivan's effort of 110 in the last ensured the points were shared.

Shaun Murphy 3-3 Ronnie O'Sullivan
Murphy's scores first - 66-71 (Murphy 44, O'Sullivan 37), 104-5 (Murphy 90), 0-93 (O'Sullivan 93), 72-15 (Murphy 71), 64-51 (Murphy 33), 0-110 (Sullivan 110)