O'Sullivan on the brink

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

O'Sullivan is set to join Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams in winning the UK Championship and the world title plus clinching the number one spot in the rankings in the same season.

'The Rocket' will need only two of the final 11 frames to win his third world title - and a first prize of £250,000 - after opening up a 16-8 advantage in the best-of-35 encounter.

O'Sullivan led 11-5 going into the third session and no-one has ever recovered from such a heavy overnight deficit in snooker's most prestigious tournament.

What will be galling for Carter is that O'Sullivan failed to produce anything like the standard he had shown in demolishing seven-times champion Stephen Hendry in the semi-finals.

It was almost as if O'Sullivan knew Carter would not be able to provide him with a stiff enough challenge after winning the previous eight meetings between the duo and looked content to revert to his 'B' game.

But Carter will be massively disappointed to have failed to make the most of several decent opportunities which have come his way.

It looked like a match too far for Carter, who appeared to have little left in his tank to mount any sort of comeback at the end of a gruelling fortnight.

But he can take consolation from collecting more than £200,000 for his efforts - £125,000 for finishing runner-up and £78,500 for sharing the highest break prize of £157,000 with O'Sullivan after both notched 147s.

O'Sullivan started the third session at staggering odds of 1-200 to polish off 28-year-old Carter, who is appearing in his first ever ranking final.