Sport

O’Sullivan extends lead over Hawkins at World Snooker Championship

Rocket takes 10-7 lead

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Barry Hawkins in their final match during the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible, Sheffield.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Barry Hawkins in their final match during the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible, Sheffield.
Sun May 05 2013 - 23:27

Barry Hawkins was rising to the challenge of his first Betfair World Championship final last night as he and Ronnie O'Sullivan produced a high-class show at the Crucible.

From 5-3 behind going into the evening, Hawkins drew level at 7-7 and the underdog was looking to have shed his early nerves. The 34-year-old world number 14 fired in back-to-back breaks of 83 and 133. The reaction from O’Sullivan to the encroaching danger was dazzling as he surged ahead again at 10-7.

After runs of 113 and 100 in the afternoon, O'Sullivan has taken a place in snooker's record books as the player with the most World Championship centuries, edging two ahead of Stephen Hendry's total of 127.