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Tempodrom, Berlin - February 1-5 2012
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PartyPoker.net German Masters 2012 Semi-Final - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Stephen Lee
The Tempdrom in Berlin was buzzing with anticipation today as the 2500 strong crowd packed in to the arena for the semi-final clash between Ronnie O'Sullivan against Stephen Lee and they were not disappointed.
Three-times world champion O'Sullivan who came from 4-0 behind to beat Andrew Higginson 5-4 earlier in the week got off to a great start winning the first two frames with a top run of 73. In the third Lee got a frame on the board after O'Sullivan missed a tricky red to the middle on 45 which let the Trowbridge cueman in to make a 72 break for 2-1.
Lee had another chance in the fourth but missed a red to the middle for O'Sullivan to steal the frame to go 3-1 ahead at the mid-session interval.
When they resumed the former Welsh Open champion Lee looked refreshed after O'Sullivan missed a difficult cutback to the corner pocket whch let his opponent back in to make a 63 break for the frame.
O'Sullivan regained his two-frame cushion after Lee miscued in amongst the balls and then extended his lead to 5-2 with a break of 82 after Lee missed a cutback red to the corner pocket.
Lee won the next scrappy frame then made a break of 54 in the ninth frame after O'Sullivan made a safety mistake to stay in the match at only 5-4 behind.
It was too late for Lee though who after miscuing in the 10th frame left the balls on for O'Sullivan who stole the frame on the final pink after Lee missed it cutting it in to the corner pocket for a brilliant 6-4 victory.
It's now means O'Sullivan is in first full ranking event final since he lost to Neil Robertson in the 2010 World Open and it also means that he is back in to the top 16 provisionally going in to the Welsh Open which means he has less to do to guarentee his spot at the world championship this April.
Take nothing away from Lee though, he performed valiantly in his first full ranking event semi-final since the 2006 Welsh Open and looks to be back to great form. If he keeps playing like this another trophy surely isn't far away for the player that many describe as having the best cue action in the world.
O'Sullivan is having his share of problems off the table though, as said in his post-match press conference;
'All credit to Stephen, he's had a good season and played some good match snooker. He's had a good tournament and I'm relieved to get through.
'I'm really struggling with my glandular fever at the moment. Before the game I didn't even think I would be able to get through it.
'Before the UK (Championship) I felt ill for a week, I managed to play but I needed the three weeks off after that.
'The doctors have told me to take it easy but there have been stages this week that I have been exausted but thankfully I have managed to come through.
'The most important thing to me is my health and i'm not prepared to compromise on that. I have to be really careful going forward.
'Sometimes I feel ok but sometimes I feel dead on the floor. I have to listen to my body and if that means I have to miss a couple tournaments because of it then I will have to.'
Let's hope O'Sullivan has a good rest ahead of tomorrow's final as he has a tough test in the form of either Stephen Maguire or Shaun Murphy who have had some great victories this week, including Maguire who came from 4-2 behind to beat Judd Trump 5-4 in the quarter-finals.
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