Snooker GOAT Ronnie O’Sullivan was only one win away from claiming a record eighth title triumph at the World Championship earlier this month, according to Neil Robertson, the 2010 Crucible winner.
O’Sullivan refused to pot a red after asking for the black to be re-spotted by referee Desislava Bozhilova – an act of sportsmanship that cost him a 7-5 lead and possibly the match – while he was later embroiled in more words with the match official when he was disturbed by fans entering the arena during a crucial shot with matters finely poised at 10-10.
As it was, 2015 champion Bingham claimed the final three frames, but could not maintain his form against Jak Jones in the semi-finals as he struggled badly among the balls before being defeated 17-12 by the Welshman, who also accounted for Judd Trump 13-9 in the last eight.
“The difference between being able to pot it comfortably and having to play safe was literally a millimetre. I think Desislava did a perfect job in that scenario. Then Ronnie played safe, which was great. Then there was what happened at 10-10 with the door and the crowd. I think that was the title.
“Judd [Trump] went out earlier that day, and I think he felt that realistically if he got through Stuart, then he would have comfortably won it. Maybe it was just that, the eighth title on the line in that mini-session.”
Kyren Wilson progressed to lift his first world title with an 18-14 win over Jones in the final, but Robertson could understand O’Sullivan frustration as he praised Eurosport for getting immediate reaction during his ill-fated encounter with Bingham.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2024/05/01/3960038-80395473-2560-1440.jpg)
‘Some referees have got it in for me’ – O’Sullivan on black spot incident
“Eurosport stuffed a mic in front of him straight out of the session, and he just went off on one didn’t he?” said Robertson.
“I don’t know why he’s done it. I understand Eurosport, it’s good journalism from them, but I don’t know why he got involved.
“I wasn’t a fan of those post-session interviews either, I wouldn’t have done them, not a chance.
“It was all up for grabs and Kyren was the one that passed the test and lasted the longest, so hats off to him.”