31.8.08

PATIENCE KEY TO FINAL

Ronnie O’Sullivan has more than ridden his luck on the way to the Northern Ireland Trophy final but his main weapon against Dave Harold in Belfast may well prove to be his patience.

This is, to put it mildly, a clash of styles.

O’Sullivan is the game’s most fluent player. Harold, with his deliberate cue action, is one of the least fluent.

However, the Stoke potter has been extremely effective all week and may well frustrate Ronnie by leaving him cold in his chair for long periods.

This final is best of 17 frames. That is more than enough time for O’Sullivan to lose his concentration.

He has beaten Harold ten times in ten previous meetings and is favourite to do so again.

But today’s result may well depend on how he copes not when at the table but while watching on.

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