Snooker: O'Sullivan claims China Open victory

Not even a 9-3 victory over world champion Mark Williams at the China Open could make Ronnie O'Sullivan smile today. Earlier this week, O'Sullivan revealed that he was no longer enjoying the game of snooker and was simply going through the motions as he cruised his way to victory at the Mission Hills Resort in Shenzhen. "It's nice to win but the last 10 days or so have been very hard and I just can't wait to get home," said the depressed 25-year-old after today's win.

"I was in a clinic being treated for depression six or seven months ago and getting my life in order is the main priority at the moment. That's what I want to do most. For a while everything was going fine but I've been playing so much snooker lately I've been pulled away from that. Now I just want to get back and put my cue in the case because I feel drained," he added.

Today's win makes O'Sullivan only the seventh player to successfully defend a world ranking title, after he won last year's event also with a 9-2 win over Stephen Lee, and also moves him into joint-fifth on the all-time winners' list behind Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Higgins and Williams. The £50,000 first prize has also increased his earnings to £280,000 for the 2000/01 campaign. However, despite his success, O'Sullivan revealed his heart just wasn't in it. "It's baffling to me how I'm winning. I'm not going to sit here and say I didn't play well - you've got to if you're going to beat Mark - but the way I was feeling out there I can't believe the balls were going in."

He may not have enjoyed his victory but he certainly deserved it. He enjoyed a break of 70 in the first frame while Williams made it 1-1 with a run of 63 in the second. However, O'Sullivan then took complete control and a blistering run of six frames on the trot left him with an unassailable 7-1 lead at the interval. Williams took the first frame of the evening session and then a run of 65 in the 10th frame gave him some hope. However, O'Sullivan captialised on a mistake by Williams in the next frame and he easily took the 12th and final frame for his victory.

Williams, top of the provisional world rankings, was disgusted with his performance against O'Sullivan. "The first eight frames were abysmal. That was in the top three of the worst sessions I've ever played. If you perform like that Ronnie is going to thrash you. It's one display that I just want to totally forget, and I will do when I walk out of that door."

Filed by Amanda Fennelly