O'Sullivan's Brilliance Atones for My Sorry State of Affairs

Last week, when I wrote about the snooker, I produced what can only be described as an error-strewn performance as, and a big thank-you to Denis Till for writing in to point this out, I managed to commit 'six crucial mistakes in three column inches'. A falsity percentage that were it to be replicated across the paper would turn The Observer into not a tissue of lies but a Kleenex carton of misinformation.

Having erred so grossly so quickly it is tempting to fall back on the England captain's 'I was aiming for the wall not the female steward' excuse in an attempt to create some wriggle room. But that would be cheap. Instead I offer Denis, who 'quite enjoys a bit of sarcastic humour', my apologies and I will quibble with only one of his half-dozen charges.

Denis writes: 'If a Chinese Barry Hearn had wanted to steal a sample of Hendry's DNA, why would they have had to wait for him to win a tournament in Asia? He could do it anywhere Hendry was playing.' This is persuasive, and may be technically true, but surely Chinese Barry Hearns are as conscious of the bottom line as English Barry Hearns and would look to minimize expenses. I only ask and, given my accuracy rate, do so softly.

Anyhow, rather than walk away from the fiasco, I boldly confronted my demons, pushed 102 on the remote, and went back to the snooker. I'm glad I did so for despite an early trademark blunder - I stupidly wrote 'look especially young', thinking I was watching 'the other semi-final', when I was actually watching a rerun of this year's Junior Pot Black - I was, unbefitting my flawed state, rewarded with a flawless performance. Perhaps, the best since Roger Federer demolished Andy Roddick and maybe even better than that.

Don't accept my judgment, obviously, but do listen to Steve Davis, who described Ronnie's Friday morning whitewash of Stephen Hendry as 'the greatest genius I have ever seen in any sport' playing at his best. Some praise, particularly as Davis is to good judges' (and my) eyes the best sports analyst on our screens, combining generosity with humor and intelligence. Davis went on to claim that Ronnie had just 'done things with his cue that no one else can come close to'. He was 'a Pinball Wizard, a Tommy, at one with every aspect of his game'.

O'Sullivan is a true magician, not because what he does defies belief, but because he does what he does with such mastery, dexterity and rhythm that the impossible looks facile. As Davis said, he has 'a great control of weight', a gift that gives the illusion that the balls are under his command. It was a mesmerizing performance. And it was no coincidence that O'Sullivan should have produced it in front of, and to defeat, the greatest player, in terms of achievement, to have played his game. There is, as Davis pointed out, a difference between genius and having a winning mentality. Possession of the latter wins you many titles, but is trumped by the former on the rare occasions that it flowers.

Given this scarcity, try to watch O'Sullivan today or tomorrow, for he is just the type to retire in his pomp and may not be displaying his genius for very much longer.