Ronnie O'Sullivan has won the Global Snooker 900 Championship, banking £25,000 after defeating Luca Brecel in the final. The victory marked a second consecutive tournament win for the 50-year-old, following his success at the World Seniors Championship earlier this month.
The event was played under Snooker 900 rules, which include a 15-minute frame time limit, a 20-second shot clock, and a ball in hand rule following a foul. O'Sullivan, speaking after the final, said the format provides valuable opportunities for players not on the main tour to compete for prize money on television. He added that the shot clock is not an issue for him and that he likes the ball in hand rule because it keeps the game moving. He also noted that many players would like to see Snooker 900 rules used in more tournaments.
The discussion over rule changes comes after Mark Allen and Wu Yize contested the longest frame in snooker history, which lasted 100 minutes and 21 seconds during their World Championship semi-final. The lengthy frame was criticised by former world champion Shaun Murphy, who urged the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association to adopt Snooker 900 rules.
Murphy said he has been a fan of the 900 since its inception, praising the shot clock and ball in hand rules. He stated that he would like to see these rules implemented in all tournaments, including at the Crucible, and that they would have prevented the 'ridiculousness' of the 100-minute frame. Following his win, O'Sullivan will take an extended break before beginning the new season at the Shanghai Masters at the end of July.
