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Tom Bell

The final everyone had been hoping for may not have produced a champion from the realms of make-believe, but the bigger picture was still of a local triumph as the Hong Kong Masters reached a cacophonous climax on Sunday.
There were to be no further miracles a day after Marco Fu Ka-chun reached baize perfection with a maximum break, world No 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan sweeping to a 6-4 success.
Fu’s contribution, along with the colossal scale of the event, had nonetheless been sufficient to define an exhilarating four days at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
That O’Sullivan, the greatest player the sport has seen, was treading the boards alongside the Hongkonger in the final act proved no less welcome as the remaining tickets sold out once these popular protagonists had sealed their spots.

A record crowd of 9,000 witnessing GREATNESS 🤩
Ronnie O'Sullivan captures the Hong Kong Masters 2022 title 🏆🇭🇰
📺 @Eurosport | #HKMasters pic.twitter.com/egNVohWRTL
— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) October 9, 2022

At more than 8,000 – including losing semi-finalist Neil Robertson – the attendance represented for a third day running the largest audience ever for snooker, and it very much sounded like it as Fu and O’Sullivan got to work.
If anything, O’Sullivan’s entrance to the arena had topped that of Fu on the volume gauge, yet the world champion played as if in a soundproof bubble in the opening frame.
He allowed a reply at 49-0, but Fu was awry and O’Sullivan was away for a further run of 52 and a 1-0 lead without his opponent having potted a ball. That state of affairs was remedied for Fu in the second as he posted a 55.
The most troubled O’Sullivan looked thereafter was when calling for help to clear up the shards after he accidentally knocked his glass of water to the floor.
That delayed matters briefly, but the Englishman was quick to mop up the third frame when Fu gave him the chance, and snaffled the fourth and fifth. In doing so, he hit consecutive half-centuries of 52, 71 and 59.
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Matches can become processions when O’Sullivan is capable of knocking off frames at such speed, but Fu has a history of rearguard action at the table – no better demonstrated than in his semi-final, when he had twice hauled himself back to level-pegging with John Higgins and still had it in him to clinch victory with a 147.
The unlikely story of his rejuvenation had been capturing the imagination all week, and the 44-year-old again fought back, notching a break of 98 that delighted the Coliseum.
Fu was imperilled again minutes later when O’Sullivan worked himself an opportunity and soon had the reds handily scattered. Proceeding to compile 105, he stood one frame from the trophy.

When he was off-target with a red in the next, Fu was unable to pocket one to the centre, but the seven-time world title-winner would give a further reprieve as he neared the finish line. Needing to clear the table, Fu sank a difficult blue, a baulk-end pink and the black, for 5-3.
Another frame to Fu applied some pressure, but O’Sullivan pounced in the next to tie things up.
It was not to be for Fu, but, in terms of both the intangible exuberance of the occasion and a crude bottom line, his home city had already won – even if HK$1 million (US$125,000) of the takings, in the form of the winner’s cheque, was heading to London.


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World Snooker

Hong Kong Masters: Ronnie O’Sullivan ends Marco Fu’s dream run as he claims title

Ronnie O’Sullivan and Marco Fu receive their winner and runner-up trophies respectively after the Hong Kong Masters final. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Marco Fu lines up a shot as Ronnie O’Sullivan looks on during the Hong Kong Masters final. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Hong Kong Masters: Marco Fu savours greatest moment as sensational 147 wins semi-final

Marco Fu brings the Hong Kong Coliseum crowd to their feet as he completes his match-winning 147 break. Photo: Dickson Lee

The Hong Kong Coliseum was thrilled by the climax to Marco Fu’s clash with John Higgins. Photo: Dickson Lee

Hong Kong Masters: biggest ever crowd turn up volume for Ronnie O’Sullivan, after Mark Williams struggles to stay awake

Ng On-yee looks on as Ronnie O’ Sullivan pots his way to victory. Photo: Dickson Lee

The Hong Kong Masters drew a bigger and more vocal crowd on day two. Photo: Dickson Lee

Neil Robertson (left) in full flow at the Hong Kong Masters against a visibly tired Mark Williams. Photo: Dickson Lee

‘Not like Nicole Kidman’: snooker stars arriving for Hong Kong Masters can visit venue during quarantine restrictions

Players (from left) Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Ronnie O’Sullivan arrive in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photo: HKBSCC

Former world champion John Higgins was the first to arrive for the Hong Kong tournament. Photo: HKBSCC

Zhao Xintong was among several players arriving in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Photo: HKBSCC

Sport

Hong Kong

Other Sport

The world champion dominates early on in the final, is hauled back by Fu, but gets over the line to take the HK$1 million prize at the Hong Kong Coliseum
Another record crowd, estimated at more than 8,000, are there to see landmark occasion for the city


The world champion resists Marco Fu fightback to take HK$1 million prize at Hong Kong Coliseum, watched by another record crowd on landmark occasion for the city.


Hong Kong Masters (snooker)

Ronnie O'Sullivan