Ronnie has won the 2022 Hong Kong Masters in front of a record crowd of more than 8500 fans. He beat Marco Fu this evening; he won by 6-4 in the Final.
Congratulations Ronnie!
Here are the scores:
The 114 to win the match was a fantastic total clearance. For most of the break both black and pink were unavailable, forcing Ronnie to constantly manoeuvre the cue ball up and down the table.
Here it is, shared by WST on their YouTube channel
World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan held off a fightback from home hero Marco Fu to win the Hong Kong Masters final 6-4 in front of a world record audience of 9,000 fans.
O’Sullivan was runner-up last time the event was staged, back in 2017. He lost out to Neil Robertson in a match which set the previous record attendance of 3,000 fans. That figure has been smashed several times already this week.
The Rocket’s opening round win over Ng On Yee was played out in front of 5,000 spectators. He went on to earn his place in the final thanks to a gripping 6-4 win over Robertson in the semis, with 7,500 fans in attendance.
This evening’s win is O’Sullivan’s first title on the World Snooker Tour since sealing a historic record equalling seventh World Championship crown at the end of last season. His victory in Hong Kong this evening earns him £100,000.
Fu will be able to reflect on a memorable four days. The Hong Kong cueist delighted his adoring fans by producing a magical moment against John Higgins in the semi-finals, winning the deciding frame with a 147. Fu picks up £45,000 for his efforts this week, as well as the £10,000 high break prize.
O’Sullivan took the opening frame this evening without conceding a point, crafting a run of 52 on his way to moving 1-0 ahead. However, Fu responded in a similar manner in the second. He made a break of 55 on his way to taking a frame where O’Sullivan didn’t trouble the scorers, drawing level at 1-1.
From that moment seven-time Crucible king O’Sullivan pulled clear. Breaks of 71 and 59 saw the Rocket surge to an ominous 3-1 lead at the mid-session.
When play resumed Fu had a chance among the balls, but a missed plant allowed O’Sullivan to step in and extend his lead to three. The home crowd had something to cheer in frame six, after Fu fired in a fine break of 98 to make it 4-2.
Fu failed to build momentum from that break and a missed cut back red was ruthlessly punished by O’Sullivan in the next, he pounced with 105 to move a frame from victory at 5-2.
A cagey start to the eighth frame saw O’Sullivan eventually establish the advantage, but a missed pink to the yellow pocket gave Fu the chance to keep his hopes alive. A gutsy clearance of 35, which included a cross double on the blue, saw him steal on the black. The three-time ranking event winner then took the ninth to make it 5-4.
O’Sullivan summoned his best snooker just when required and denied Fu a deciding frame with a stunning century run of 114 to get over the line a 6-4 victor.
“It’s unbelievable. Forget winning the tournament, to play in front of 9,000 fans is just incredible. I’ve been to the ATP tennis in London before and it felt something similar to that. I’ve never experienced it and I didn’t think I would experience that. It is just incredible. The best event I’ve ever played in my life,” said 39-time ranking event winner O’Sullivan.
“It is a different type of nerves to the Crucible. That is evil, on top of you and intense. Here you have the fans, but there is a bit more space. I felt some nice nerves and I enjoyed the occasion. I wanted it to carry on, so I am disappointed the tournament is over.
“Everyone is happy to see Marco come back. He has had a great tournament, beat two fantastic players and pushed me all the way. He had a 147 in front of his home crowd. There was a lot of expectation from the fans on him and he has delivered.”
Some pictures shared on twitter (mainly by WST), on Facebook (by Jing Ferguson) and on weibo (by WST and Super Star Online)
Ronnie came on twitter – a rarity in recent time – to express his happiness about the whole event
There were also some short footages showing the incredible atmosphere in the arena:
By WST
By Jan Verhaas
By Victoria Shi
Other than the Final, there was also an exhibition match involving Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, John Higgins and some young local players. I didn’t find any account of what happened but going by the pictures, everyone had a lot of fun
12 thoughts on “Ronnie is the 2022 Hong Kong Masters Champion”
He will win his 8th World title in May.
That is an veary early call, but at least an early title helps the confidence ofc.
“For most of the break both black and pink were unavailable, forcing Ronnie to constantly manoeuvre the cue ball up and down the table.”
Up and down HALF the table to be honest. But I agree Ronnie played like in practice most of the tournament.
(First: H-K, Fu,…Respect! Magical moment of the season.)
Masters, CoC, and now this!
Alternative mode, but imo this 3 non-ranking event is the tour-best. Ok, and the – 4 in 1 – Crucible.
I think H-K masters was symbolic…and maybe a little bit “stagey”? Essence: the 3 Titan work (and at the same time teach the Knights of present) for the future of snooker, without them.
…
By the way, Ronnie’s next final* will be an absolute record /in modern era,…singles, professional, main tour/
(source: Wikipedia = JH:101; SH:121; SD:122; RO’S:122,…*if not count the ’98 Irish Masters : ))
Congrats to the Master ROS. Such a shame it was not televised well in the UK. Eurosport did a summary programme at 5pm with no build up as it kicked in at a 4-1 and at the end just signed off without showing the presentation and Interviews. BBC and ITV would have done a much better job ! If Eurosport want to be the go to channel for Snooker much work needed……………..
I understand Nigel and now you can see what we go through outside UK when events are on ITV or BBC. They restrict their online platforms to people in the UK. Despite paying my third party provider in Belgium to get BBC, It’s only BBC News, ONE and TWO. No access to the red button. So when during the World, in evenings, after an hour they switch to the red button, that’s it for us outside UK. Here in Greece I don’t even have the possibility to get BBC, or Eurosport on TV. So It’s the app for me. BBC and ITV might have done a better job, maybe. But only for the UK fans.Me, I’m grateful that I could watch it. In 2017 we got nothing at all …
I’ve found this about the exhibition before the final has started.
147 by Higgins but his young opponent potted the final black!!
That title winning break was incredible.
Before the event I expected him to beat Ng but never believed to beat Neil Robbo.
Then was so close for the 6-2 victory, Fu played solid stuff to make 5-4.
I hope the tennis elbow injury is not effect his game anymore.
The event was really good. I cannot remember exactly the first Hong Kong Masters back in 2017 but the Hong Kong fans were incredible this year.
I hope this breaks the ice and more and more Asian events to come in the future
Absolutely!! Ronnie can be unstoppable at times!! Wish could have seen all of this event but so glad that Ronnie won!
Congratulations, Ronnie! In the beginning I would not have been absolutely unhappy had Fu won, but obviously not after Ronnie was up 4-1. At 5-4 I was getting worried we were heading to a decider, but fabulous last frame and I was happy Marco should shine a bit.
I didn’t get to watch much (because of the time zone difference), but I thought Ronnie looked very good (physically, mentally, and snookerly) this week. It seemed clear that he wanted to win this event, and when Ronnie wants to win, there’s always a very good chance that he will…
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
He will win his 8th World title in May.
That is an veary early call, but at least an early title helps the confidence ofc.
“For most of the break both black and pink were unavailable, forcing Ronnie to constantly manoeuvre the cue ball up and down the table.”
Up and down HALF the table to be honest. But I agree Ronnie played like in practice most of the tournament.
(First: H-K, Fu,…Respect! Magical moment of the season.)
Masters, CoC, and now this!
Alternative mode, but imo this 3 non-ranking event is the tour-best. Ok, and the – 4 in 1 – Crucible.
I think H-K masters was symbolic…and maybe a little bit “stagey”? Essence: the 3 Titan work (and at the same time teach the Knights of present) for the future of snooker, without them.
…
By the way, Ronnie’s next final* will be an absolute record /in modern era,…singles, professional, main tour/
(source: Wikipedia = JH:101; SH:121; SD:122; RO’S:122,…*if not count the ’98 Irish Masters : ))
Congrats to the Master ROS. Such a shame it was not televised well in the UK. Eurosport did a summary programme at 5pm with no build up as it kicked in at a 4-1 and at the end just signed off without showing the presentation and Interviews. BBC and ITV would have done a much better job ! If Eurosport want to be the go to channel for Snooker much work needed……………..
I understand Nigel and now you can see what we go through outside UK when events are on ITV or BBC. They restrict their online platforms to people in the UK. Despite paying my third party provider in Belgium to get BBC, It’s only BBC News, ONE and TWO. No access to the red button. So when during the World, in evenings, after an hour they switch to the red button, that’s it for us outside UK. Here in Greece I don’t even have the possibility to get BBC, or Eurosport on TV. So It’s the app for me. BBC and ITV might have done a better job, maybe. But only for the UK fans.Me, I’m grateful that I could watch it. In 2017 we got nothing at all …
one more find: https://www.instagram.com/p/CjfQ75brG8b/
https://weibo.com/5718804188/M9xkPfBR2?refer_flag=1001030103_
I’ve found this about the exhibition before the final has started.
147 by Higgins but his young opponent potted the final black!!
That title winning break was incredible.
Before the event I expected him to beat Ng but never believed to beat Neil Robbo.
Then was so close for the 6-2 victory, Fu played solid stuff to make 5-4.
I hope the tennis elbow injury is not effect his game anymore.
The event was really good. I cannot remember exactly the first Hong Kong Masters back in 2017 but the Hong Kong fans were incredible this year.
I hope this breaks the ice and more and more Asian events to come in the future
Absolutely!! Ronnie can be unstoppable at times!! Wish could have seen all of this event but so glad that Ronnie won!
Congratulations, Ronnie! In the beginning I would not have been absolutely unhappy had Fu won, but obviously not after Ronnie was up 4-1. At 5-4 I was getting worried we were heading to a decider, but fabulous last frame and I was happy Marco should shine a bit.
I didn’t get to watch much (because of the time zone difference), but I thought Ronnie looked very good (physically, mentally, and snookerly) this week. It seemed clear that he wanted to win this event, and when Ronnie wants to win, there’s always a very good chance that he will…