One is Impressive but Two?! Ronnie O’Sullivan Puts on a Show in 6-3 Semi-Final Win over Chris Wakelin at the Saudi Arabia Masters
The crowd inside the gleaming arena in Jeddah witnessed something extraordinary on Saturday evening. Ronnie O’Sullivan, the undisputed master of snooker artistry, produced yet another performance to remind the world why he continues to be the most captivating player ever to pick up a cue. In a gripping semi-final clash at the Saudi Arabia Masters, the Rocket surged past Chris Wakelin with a 6-3 victory—one decorated not with just a single burst of brilliance, but with two of them. One 147 maximum clearance is a rare jewel; two in the same tournament feels like snooker magic, the type of spectacle that only O’Sullivan seems capable of delivering time and time again.
The Rocket Starts with Intent
O’Sullivan came into this semi-final riding the confidence of his recent exploits in the tournament. His earlier matches already carried a stamp of authority, but facing Chris Wakelin—a player who has steadily built a reputation for resilience and sharp cueing—the Rocket knew he couldn’t afford to ease into the contest. From the very first frame, his focus was palpable.
The opening exchanges were tightly contested, with Wakelin attempting to establish early control through steady safety play. But O’Sullivan, true to his style, shifted gears the moment half a chance presented itself. A sparkling 112 clearance gave him the opener, and the tone of the match was immediately set. Wakelin responded admirably, stealing the second frame with a composed 74 to level matters at 1-1, but the Rocket’s intent was already obvious: this would be a night of attack, flair, and entertainment.
First Explosion of Brilliance
By the third frame, O’Sullivan’s engine was firing at full speed. A loose safety from Wakelin left a red over the corner, and that was all the Rocket needed. What followed was breathtaking: cue ball gliding effortlessly across the table, positional play that looked rehearsed by destiny itself, and a finishing black that drew the loudest roar of the night.
Yes—Ronnie O’Sullivan had compiled his first maximum break of the semi-final, a flawless 147 that left the audience on its feet. The atmosphere in Jeddah was electric, the kind that reverberates long after the balls are re-spotted. Even Wakelin, who could only smile wryly from his chair, acknowledged that he had just been a witness to snooker’s purest spectacle.
Wakelin’s Fightback
To his credit, Wakelin did not crumble under the weight of O’Sullivan’s genius. Instead, he dug deep, clinching the fourth frame with gritty determination. At 2-2, the match still felt wide open, and Wakelin’s composure was earning him respect among the Saudi crowd. His ability to hold his nerve, particularly against the Rocket, showed just how far he has come as a professional.
But as the evening unfolded, O’Sullivan’s relentless rhythm was simply too much to resist. He claimed the fifth and sixth frames with breaks of 86 and 91, moving 4-2 ahead and closing in on yet another final.
Second Thunderbolt
Just when the audience thought they had seen it all, O’Sullivan delivered again. In the seventh frame, a routine opening red turned into another exhibition of cue-ball artistry. Every shot was measured, every positional transition silky smooth, and before anyone could quite believe it, O’Sullivan was lining up the final black once again.
A second 147. In the same match. In the same arena. The Rocket raised his cue to the ceiling as fans erupted into cheers that shook the walls of the venue. It was an astonishing moment, one that transcended sport itself. Even the commentators struggled to put it into words. One 147 is a career-defining highlight for most players; O’Sullivan had just made two in a single evening, as if to prove that the laws of probability bend differently when he is around.
The Closing Stretch
Though Wakelin bravely took the eighth frame to trail 5-3, there was little doubt about the outcome. O’Sullivan wrapped up the contest in the ninth frame with a clinical break of 72, sealing a 6-3 victory and booking his place in the Saudi Arabia Masters final.
A Legacy Still Unfolding
At 49 years old, O’Sullivan continues to rewrite snooker’s narrative in ways that no one else can. His performance against Wakelin was not just about winning; it was about entertaining, inspiring, and reminding fans why they fell in love with the sport in the first place. Two 147s in a single match is a feat almost unthinkable, yet O’Sullivan made it feel effortless.
For Chris Wakelin, the defeat will sting, but he can take immense pride in sharing the stage with greatness. His resilience and competitive spirit ensured that this semi-final was no mere procession.
For O’Sullivan, however, this victory was another brushstroke on an already monumental canvas of achievements. As he marches into the final, fans are left asking: what more magic does the Rocket have up his sleeve?
One maximum is impressive. Two is historic. But when it comes to Ronnie O’Sullivan, perhaps we should stop being surprised—because with the Rocket, the impossible always seems possible.
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