O'Sullivan stays on course to win title for sixth successive time - 28/11/2009

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN 5-1 JUDD TRUMP
O'Sullivan's scores first
98-28 (O'Sullivan 98), 99-10 (O'Sullivan 53, 42), 68-10 (O'Sullivan 66), 83-1 (Trump 76), 30-63 (O'Sullivan 30, Trump 63), 67-58 (O'Sullivan 67, Trump 58).

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN stayed on course for a sixth successive victory in the Premier League Snooker competition.

O'Sullivan was in sensational form and rattled in breaks of 98, 53, 66 and 67 on his way to a 5-1 triumph over Judd Trump at the Potters Leisure Resort in Hopton-on-Sea, Norfolk.

O'Sullivan, who now meets Shaun Murphy in tomorrow's final said: "It was a lot better than I've been playing so I'm pleased. I still missed a few balls which I'm not happy with but have to be content that when I get in I don't feel like I will miss, although I'm still dodgy with anything over three or four feet away.

"I've not been playing well and it's hard to get up for it when you feel you're struggling to get two balls down. When your confidence goes, it's a tough place to be but I'm hitting the ball a little bit more freely and when you get some momentum it makes the game a bit easier.

"Snooker is about consistency and it's ok playing a decent match but it's really all about playing a lot of decent matches so hopefully it comes tomorrow."

The second semi-final was between Ronnie O'Sullivan, who had won the tournament in the last five seasons, and Judd Trump who was competing in the semi-finals in his debut appearance in the competition.

Trump had defeated O'Sullivan 4-2 in the league phase and was hoping to claim another victory and a meeting with Shaun Murphy in tomorrow's final after Murphy had earlier triumphed 5-3 against John Higgins.

O'Sullivan, who had struggled for form at points during the league phase, was playing well in the semi-final as he stormed into a 2-0 lead in only 18 minutes. He made a break of 98 in the opener before scores of 53 and then 42 doubled his advantage.

It soon became 3-0 to O'Sullivan. He missed a tough black into the middle pocket in the early stages of the frame but a later break of 68 took him closer to the winning total of five.

This was a sensational performance from O'Sullivan and every loose shot from Trump was punished fully. A break of 76 in only five minutes in the fourth helped O'Sullivan into a 4-0 lead, one away from a final appearance.

Trump finally got off the mark by securing the fifth frame, thanks to a break of 63. He lost position and that led to him missing a tough pink when he needed one more red. O'Sullivan made a break of 30 but then conceded the frame after he missed a black ball.

Trump looked on the verge of winning his second frame in a row but faultered after a run of 58. He later made a loose safety and that proved to be his last shot of this year's competition as O'Sullivan hit a closing break of 67 to win 5-1.