Ronnie O’Sullivan has battled his way into the World Open final after an absolute nail-biter against Wu Yize this morning.
The seven-time world champion found himself staring down the barrel at 43-0 behind in the deciding frame, but ‘The Rocket’ did what he does best.
He punished a wayward safety from his Chinese opponent by drilling home a long red, then kept his cool to rattle off a stunning 89 clearance and seal a 6-5 triumph.
It was a proper scrap throughout. O’Sullivan raced into a 2-0 lead and looked comfortable at 3-1, but the world number 11 refused to go quietly, dragging things level at 3-3.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is through to the final of the World Open
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From there, it turned into a best-of-five shootout, with both players trading brilliant breaks.
O’Sullivan fired in runs of 97 and 118, while Wu responded with efforts of 86 and 77 before that dramatic finale.
This thriller came just 24 hours after O’Sullivan made snooker history with a sensational 153 break against Ryan Day in the quarter-finals.
The 50-year-old managed to leave the Welshman in a snooker right at the start of the opening frame, and when Day’s escape attempt went wrong, O’Sullivan was handed a free ball.
Producing this in a deciding frame at 43-0 down…
Who else?#WorldOpen pic.twitter.com/vnpvELeOeS
— WST (@WeAreWST) March 21, 2026
Starting with the green and then a black, he’d already racked up eight points before touching a single red.
He then cleared all 15 reds with 13 blacks and two pinks, finishing with the colours for that record-breaking total.
The victory means O’Sullivan has reached his 66th ranking final – a quite remarkable achievement for the 50-year-old.
He’s now chasing his first ranking title since lifting the World Grand Prix trophy back in January 2024, when he beat Judd Trump in the final.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has reached the 66th ranking final of his career
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GETTY
Interestingly, Trump could well be waiting for him again on Sunday. The world number one takes on Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the second semi-final later today.
Should O’Sullivan lift the trophy, it would be a record-extending 42nd ranking title for the man many consider the greatest to ever pick up a cue.
He’s also signed up to compete in the World Seniors Championship for the first time this year.
