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McCULLOCH ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DREAM                                                                                 9 OCTOBER 2004
Ian McCulloch will face Ronnie O'Sullivan in the final of the totesport Grand Prix, in his home venue at the Guild Hall Preston.

McCulloch produced a thoroughly competent performance to overwhelm Michael Judge 6-1. Judge, appearing in his first  ranking event semi-final just couldn't get going and despite winning a scrappy opening frame, he was on the back foot through the match.

Preston's McCulloch, cheered on by a partisan local crowd, nicked the second frame on the black and then stamped his authority on the game. Playing with increasing confidence he pieced together efforts of 39 and 28 to take the third and moved 3-1 ahead with a 132 in the fourth.

He kept the pressure on with 81 in the fifth. Judge had his chance in the next, making 41 before breaking down, and McCulloch replied with 40 and then added blue and pink to stand on the verge of victory. and McCulloch achieved that one frame later, after a fragmented seventh frame eventually went his way.

The O'Sullivan against Paul Hunter match was a repeat of the Masters final earlier this year, when Hunter came back from 7-2 down to win the decider. But he couldn't repeat that effort and O'Sullivan ran out a 6-3 winner.

Breaks of 57 and 49 gave the Essex Exocet the opener, but he broke down early in the second and Hunter replied with 68 to level.

Both players got in and then broke down in the third, but a late run of 40 gave O'Sullivan the frame, and looking very composed and disciplined the World Champion stroked in 60 to lead 3-1.

Hunter pulled one back with runs of 41 and 28 and then produced his best break of the match, 80, to move within one frame.

The eighth frame proved pivotal. Lasting 27 minutes, both players produced some high quality safety and tactical play as the balls went awkward, but O'Sullivan mid frame 30 break was decisive in a low scoring frame.

And the end came just six minutes later as O'Sullivan blasted in a long red and smacked in 107 to seal his victory.

RESOURCES

2004 GRAND PRIX

INFORMATION

PHOTOS

TOTESPORT

 

RESULTS - SEMI FINALS

Frame Scores:

Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-3 Paul Hunter
114(57,49)-7, 8-91(68), 83(40)-52, 83(60)-46, 20-69(410, 65(43)-16, 0-80(800, 55-12, 107(107)-0
Ian McCulloch 6-1 Michael Judge
21-74(44), 59-54, 71-19, 132(132)-0, 100(81)-6, 70(40)-53(410, 61-39