Ronnie O'Sullivan ousts Wu in thriller to reach World Open snooker final

The seven-time world champion will face either world number one Judd Trump or Thailand's Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Sunday's best-of-19 frames title decider.

Returning to baize action a day after his world record break of 153, 50-year-old O'Sullivan met Wu - one of the hottest properties in the sport right now - in a clash of generations where there was 28 years difference between the contestants.

Only their second-ever encounter on the World Snooker Tour, O'Sullivan settled in by taking the opening frame before doubling his lead courtesy of an 86 break.

International Championship title holder Wu - who was one position higher in the world rankings than his opponent - got on the scoreboard via a run of 77, but O'Sullivan (78 break) went into the mid-session interval 3-1 up.

On resumption, though, home soil cueist Wu (53, frame five) strung back-to-back frames to restore parity at 3-3.

The remainder of the tie went back and forth as the players upped the ante with their scoring power. 'The Rocket' nudged back ahead at 4-3 after a 97, but an 86 saw Wu level at 4-4.

O'Sullivan then hit his eighth century of the week with a 118 to reach the hill first at 5-4 up. He was then within touching distance of the final in frame 10 whilst on an effort of 44, but having had both the cueball and object balls cleaned, he missed a relatively routine black off its spot to give his opposite number an unexpected lifeline.

Youngster Wu stepped in and fully punished, fashioning a cool contribution of 77 to force the match all the way.

In the deciding frame, Wu sank a magnificent red and went about trying to get in front in the match for the first time, and when it mattered the most.

But after landing straight on a black, he was unable to collide into the pack of reds and continue the break, therefore had to make do with a run of 43.

A few moments later, O'Sullivan managed to put aside the frustration of what had happened in the previous frame, dispatching a superb opening red into the yellow pocket and proceeding to compile a classy match-winning clearance of 89.

O'Sullivan advances to the 66th world ranking event final of his long, illustrious career. On Sunday he will be aiming for a record-extending 42nd title.

It will be the Englishman's second ranking final outing of the season - he was pipped 10-9 by Neil Robertson in a thrilling Saudi Arabia Masters climax last August - although he is attempting to end a trophy wait on the professional circuit of over two years.

His last title on Tour was the invitational Riyadh Season Championship in early March 2024, whilst his last ranking crown was at the World Grand Prix held in Leicester in January 2024.

In that WGP final, O'Sullivan overcame Trump, and the two could share the baize again tomorrow to decide the destiny of the £175,000 top prize.

Whatever the outcome of Sunday's final, it will be O'Sullivan's last competitive appearance on the top flight until the 2026 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theatre, as he has elected not to enter the Tour Championship in a couple of weeks time.

His first final as a quinquagenarian, O’Sullivan could be the first player in professional snooker history to win a ranking title in five different decades of their life - teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.

Should he lift the trophy later this weekend - he hasn’t won this particular title before - he would also set a new record for the longest span between ranking titles. His first came over 32 years ago at the 1993 UK Championship when he memorably defeated world champion and world number one Stephen Hendry in the final as a 17-year-old.

To view the full draw, results, schedule, and other information from the 2026 World Open, visit here.