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O’Sullivan secures first World Grand Prix title with easy victory over Ding

O’Sullivan racked up three centuries as he cruised to his 32nd ranking event win in Preston.

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Ronnie O’Sullivan secured his maiden World Grand Prix title with a convincing 10-3 victory over Ding Junhui at Preston’s Guild Hall.

The five-time world champion produced some of his best snooker when it mattered most with an early break of 71 to take the opener but Ding was also in fine form with runs of 53 and 68 to go 2-2 at the mid-session interval.

However, clearances of 124, 105 and 120 helped the world number two into a 6-3 lead at the end of the afternoon session before runs of 46 and 44 in the first frame of the evening extended O’Sullivan’s advantage to 7-3.

O’Sullivan ran riot to take the next two frames, needing just one more for his 32nd ranking event crown and the 42-year-old sealed it in style by rattling in an 83 break to complete the rout.

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