Ronnie O’Sullivan believes experience will be the key when he faces Judd Trump in Saturday’s final at the Shanghai Masters. The Rocket booked his place in the showpiece with a 6-2 win over John Higgins and is now just one match away from his 30th career ranking title. One of those came at the Shanghai Grand Stage in 2009 but he is facing a player who will feel he has a point to prove at the venue.
Trump has twice lost in the final of this tournament and has shown some good form so far this season, winning the European Masters as well as reaching the quarters of the International Championship. O’Sullivan won that week and has also featured in the final of both the Hong Kong Masters and the Champion of Champions. The 41-year-old is the 4/7 favourite to Trump’s 11/8 and is clearly in confident mood. Speaking after his win over Higgins, O’Sullivan said he believes he can still move up a few gears and is confident he can find a way to bring the best out of his game on Saturday. He said: “I would love to go on and win it.
My game can improve but there’s no point looking too far ahead because that can play tricks with your mind. “A 19 frame match is a long one and sometimes you have to change the pattern of the game. “The nicest way to win is to go out there and play your game and be too strong for your opponent, but that doesn’t always happen, so you have to use your experience, your skill and whatever you have.”
Shanghai Masters odds available at Dafabet.