“I don’t care” – Ronnie O’Sullivan defiant over Judd Trump 147 handshake snub
O’Sullivan looks on (Photo Credit: Taka G Wu/Alamy Live News)
Ronnie O’Sullivan admits he ‘doesn’t care what anyone thinks’ after refusing to acknowledge Judd Trump’s 147 break during the Champion of Champions final.
Trump produced a moment of magic in Bolton on Sunday by making a maximum in the eighth frame of the final, trailing 6-1.
The feat was met with a standing ovation from the sell-out crowd, but O’Sullivan remained in his seat and opted not to congratulate his opponent.
O’Sullivan went on to clinch a 10-6 victory for his fourth Champion of Champions title, but his refusal to acknowledge Trump’s maximum remained a talking point after the match.
Trump commented: “You celebrate making the 147, turn around and put your cue down — and I kind of expected Ronnie to get up and say well done.
“That is just the normal thing to do. It is a special feat for anyone and it would have been nice to get his seal of approval.
“At that point in the final, when he was still 6-2 up, he knows if he plays half-decent he is going to win. He is too good not to.
“So you would have expected him to be relaxed enough to say good things, especially after what happened at the World Championship final.”
O’Sullivan also defeated Trump to secure a record-equalling seventh world title at The Crucible in May and shared a lengthy embrace with his rival at the end of the contest.
However, he remained defiant on the 147 snub, admitting: “It’s brilliant Judd made the 147, but we still had a match to play as far as I was concerned.
“People have got their opinions and I don’t care what anyone thinks of me or what I do or don’t do.”
Mark Allen and Mark Williams were among those to share their views on the incident on social media:
U should tag the the ref in he didn't bother either ?♂️
— MARK WILLIAMS M.B.E (@markwil147) November 6, 2022
Seven-time World Champion Stephen Hendry, who was working as a pundit and commentator for ITV during the Champion of Champions, added: “Look, no one took more displeasure in their opponents doing things well against them more than me.
“But shake the guy’s hand. He has made a 147, it’s in the final and you are 6-1 up. Shake the guy’s hand. It was incredible.”
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