Davis denied by late O'Sullivan comeback

Ronnie O'Sullivan deprived Steve Davis of his first ranking title in nine years when he won the last four frames to clinch the…

Ronnie O'Sullivan deprived Steve Davis of his first ranking title in nine years when he won the last four frames to clinch the Welsh Open title in Cardiff last night.

Davis, who won the 1995 event, claimed a shock 3-0 lead as O'Sullivan struggled to find any sort of rhythm.

A 40 clearance in the opening frame, followed by a run of 74, put the 46-year-old 2-0 ahead and Davis pieced together a 42 break to clinch the third.

O'Sullivan claimed the fourth with a break of 58 but lost the fifth when Davis doubled the final black the full length of the table.

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Davis was looking good for 5-1 as well but O'Sullivan potted a great long red and closed to 4-2 before ending the session with back-to-back centuries of 125 and 139, to tie the game at 4-4.

But Davis refused to yield, and won three of the next four frames to lead 8-5, just one short of victory.

O'Sullivan replied with four  straight frames, including a 118 break in the 14th, and a 77 in the 15th, to take the title.