Having been the youngest, Ronnie O'Sullivan could also become the oldest Masters holder: 'Young people will have to step up'

For the 14th time in his career, Ronnie O'Sullivan reached the final of the Masters, the most prestigious tournament of the year after the World Cup. O'Sullivan defeated Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals on Saturday. The 48-year-old champion smiled after his victory, “Youth keeps me young.”

Ronnie O'Sullivan is already the record holder with 7 Masters final victories. And there could be another match on Sunday in his 14th final, following a 6-2 semi-final win over Shaun Murphy.

The current world number one won three of the first four frames, but Murphy came back 131 points behind.

After another century from Murphy in the fifth frame, he closed at 3-2, but then O'Sullivan had had enough. With 3 consecutive frames the lead went to 6-2, which is good for a ticket to the final.

O'Sullivan is the record holder in the Masters, but his last win in London dates back to 2017. Since then, he has reached the final again. In 2019, he lost to Judd Trump.

The 48-year-old Englishman could become the oldest ever winner of the Masters tomorrow. O'Sullivan also remains the youngest ever recipient of the award. He won the Masters for the first time in 29 years, at the age of 19.

“I don't feel old yet,” O'Sullivan told Murphy after his win. “I still feel young in my mind, and standing at the table against young people keeps me young too.”

“They seem old and their brains are working slowly. My mind is still working very fast around the snooker table. They're going to have to step it up a bit. I'm going to be blind and have a bad arm and they're still going to have to.” He can't beat me.”