Posted: 09:00, 3 May 2022 | Updated: 09:51, 3 May 2022
Ronnie O’Sullivan opened his emotional embrace with Judd Trump after winning the seventh World Championship title, which equates to a record. The 46-year-old equalized with Stephen Hendry’s Crucible crowns, after holding Trump’s impressive return to seal the victory with 18-13. O’Sullivan then showed a level of emotion that has rarely been seen throughout his legendary career as he cried in tears in the arms of his battered opponent. Ronnie O’Sullivan Wins World Championship With Judd Trump Victory The seven-time world champion cried with tears in Trump’s arms in the aftermath of the competition An emotional O’Sullivan revealed something his defeated opponent said “exploded” “I was just emotional. “To cross the line, I just thought it would never happen,” he told Eurosport. “I gave him a big hug and I just cried in his arms. And he said such beautiful words. “What he told me surprised me to be honest. It just blew me away. I love Jade. I love him, he is a wonderful lad, and until then I had not realized what he thought of me. “I had different respect there, you know. I had not realized how he sees me and how I was part of his evolution. “It’s great for the snooker we have someone like Jade, who plays like he plays. Some more are coming [Zhao] Xintong, it will be wonderful. “I was proud to share the scene, this is my best result. What Jade said made me come in. Another emotional O’Sullivan then had to wipe away more tears as he gave the interview in which he decided not to reveal exactly what Trump had told him. Many expected him to win his first World Cup since 2020, as he had a 12-5 lead during Sunday’s match. Trump narrowed the deficit to 14-11 after winning six of the top eight frames, only to move away from number one in the world and become the oldest world champion in Crucible history. O’Sullivan had to wipe away his tears as he spoke to Eurosport about his moment with Trump Asked to imitate Hendry’s 1999 record, O’Sullivan told BBC Sport: “We can share it for a year. I tried to be as relaxed as I could, but that is probably the best result I have had for someone like Judd. “I never dealt with records. When you get them, they’s kind of nice. I have no goals. I liked every tournament this year, I just loved playing. “I like to win, but it’s not the best and the end. Crucible brings out the worst in me. “It may not be the best idea, but we will probably go again next year.” O’Sullivan was criticized earlier in the tournament for making a lewd gesture after losing a black from his 13th-place finish to a 10-5 victory over David Gilbert. He showed his frustrations again in the first session of Sunday’s final. After asking a guard to move away from his eyeline, O’Sullivan was 5-2 ahead and cruising. With the final frame of the session in balance, O’Sullivan failed to get out of a snooker and returned to his seat. Trump won six of the first eight frames in Monday’s session, but was unable to complete a comeback O’Sullivan became the oldest person to win the World Cup at the age of 46 Referee Olivier Marteel followed and accused him of making a gesture. Pointing to the referee, O’Sullivan replied: “Tell me, tell me, what did you see? Tell me what you saw. You did not see anything. Go see the camera. You did not see anything. “Do not start.” Marteel approached Trump, who told him he had to wait until the end of the frame to address the issue. After leaving the arena without the usual handshake with the official, he spoke to Eurosport from his dressing room. “He just seems to be looking for trouble, I just have a sense of the guy,” he said. “They have hundreds of cameras out there – they can go and check them all. He is trying to say… I will let the referee talk to you because I think he is trying to create something. “He has to face it, not me.”
