Ronnie O’Sullivan has opened up on his emotional embrace with Judd Trump after he clinched a record-equalling seventh World Championship title.
The 46-year-old pulled level with Stephen Hendry’s Crucible crowns after holding off Trump’s stirring comeback to seal an 18-13 victory.
O’Sullivan then showed a level of emotion that has rarely been seen throughout his legendary career as he sobbed in his beaten opponent’s arms.
Ronnie O’Sullivan clinched the World Championship with a victory over Judd Trump
The now seven-time world champion sobbed into Trump’s arms in the aftermath of the contest
An emotional O’Sullivan revealed something his beaten opponent said ‘blew him away’
‘I was so emotional. To get over the line, I just thought it would never happen,’ he told Eurosport.
‘I gave him a big hug and I was just sobbing in his arms. And he said such lovely words.
‘What he said to me blew me away to be honest. It just blew me away. I love Judd. I love him, he’s a great lad, and I didn’t realise what he thought of me until then.
‘I was like different respect there, you know. I didn’t realise how he sees me and how I’ve been part of his development.
‘It’s great for snooker that we’ve got someone like Judd, playing the way he plays. There’s a couple more coming through [Zhao] Xintong, it’s going to be brilliant.
‘I was proud to share the stage, that’s my best result ever I think. What he said Judd, it just done me in.’
A still emotional O’Sullivan then had to wipe away more tears as he was giving the interview in which he decided not to reveal exactly what Trump said to him.
Many expected that he would win his first World Championship since 2020, after sailing into a 12-5 lead during Sunday’s session.
Trump narrowed the deficit to 14-11 after winning six of the opening eight frames, only for the current world number one to pull away and become the oldest world champion in Crucible history.
O’Sullivan had to wipe away tears when talking to Eurosport about his moment with Trump
Asked about emulating Hendry’s record which was set in 1999, O’Sullivan told BBC Sport: ‘We can share it for a year. I tried to be as relaxed as I could, but that is probably the greatest result I’ve had against somebody like Judd.
‘I’ve never bothered about records. When you get them, it’s kind of nice. I don’t have targets. I’ve loved every tournament this year, I’ve just loved playing.
‘I like to win, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. The Crucible brings out the worst in me. It’s probably not the best idea but we’ll probably go again next year.’
O’Sullivan was criticised earlier in the tournament after making a lewd gesture after missing a black off its spot in 13th frame in a 10-5 win over David Gilbert.
He showed his frustrations again in the first session of the final on Sunday.
After asking a security guard to move out of his eyeline, O’Sullivan was 5-2 up and cruising. With the final frame of the session in the balance, O’Sullivan failed to get out of a snooker and returned to his seat.
Trump won six of the first eight frames in Monday’s session but couldn’t complete a comeback
O’Sullivan became the oldest person to win the World Championship at the age of 46
Referee Olivier Marteel followed and accused him of making a gesture.
Pointing at the referee, O’Sullivan replied: ‘Tell me, tell me, what did you see? You tell me what you saw. You saw nothing. Go look at the camera. You saw nothing. Don’t start.’
Marteel approached Trump, who told him he should have waited until after the frame to deal with the matter.
After leaving the arena without the customary handshake with the official, he spoke to Eurosport from his dressing room.
‘He just seems to be looking for trouble, I just get a vibe from the guy,’ he said. ‘They’ve got hundreds of cameras out there — they can go and check them all. He’s trying to say… I’ll let the ref talk to you because I think he’s trying to create something. He needs to deal with it, not me.’
