Ronnie is just too strong for our Ali

10:16pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

SNOOKER star Ali Carter has been blown away by the rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan in the World Championship Final.

The man from Tiptree, who owns Chelmsford Snooker Club on the Rivermead Industrial Estate, had chosen a great tournament to reach his first ranking event final.

But he could not keep up with the now world number one, UK champion and three-time world champion who blasted him 18-8, winning every session in the process.

And while Carter might be disappointed with some scrappy play and not putting O'Sullivan under more pressure, this is still by far the most successful week the 28-year-old has had since taking up the sport.

Quite apart from pocketing more than £200,000 - £125,000 for the runner-up and half the £147,000 (which he shares with O'Sullivan) for a brilliant 147 maximum break earlier in the championship - Carter has made it into the top ten in the world and made himself a household name in the process.

In truth the match was never close. O'Sullivan powered away with a 6-2 lead in the first session, which was extended to 11-5 overnight.

This was then extended to 16-8 before O'Sullivan rattled off the last two frames in the final session for the victory.

Speaking after the event, Carter said that he was pleased to have made it to the final, had enjoyed the great experience.

He had gone the distance in the first round against Barry Hawkins with a final frame decider meaning he went through 10-9.

He followed up with an 13-4 assault on former world champion Shaun Murphy and then produced a brilliant 147 maximum on his way to another win against a world champion with a 13-9 victory against Peter Ebdon.

A tense semi-final against Joe Perry, which he won 17-15, helped him to reach his first final but he could not make it one step further and three world champions defeated to lift the trophy.

Times Pictures