Ronnie O’Sullivan. Picture by Monique Limbos

UK CHAMPIONSHIP finalist Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted he was a lucky boy to still be in the tournament after his dramatic semi-final victory over Stuart Bingham.

O’Sullivan is one win away from his fifth UK Championship title after coming back from 4-1 and 5-3 down to beat Stuart Bingham in a thrilling contest which went all the way to the final frame.

But speaking after his win O’Sullivan told the media he was fortunate to have fought back after receiving ‘a good hiding’ during the opening stages of the match.

“I thought if he (Bingham) keeps playing like that it was 6-1 all day long, I was lucky to get a frame (during the start of the match),” he said.

“He outfoxed me, out-potted me, out-scored me and he just looked so comfortable around the table. I got away with that one and got lucky.”

O’Sullivan will face with Judd Trump or Stephen Maguire in Sunday’s showdown final and admitted he will have to show the kind of form which saw him make a comeback, rather than the start of the match where he fell behind, if he is to win the title.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m delighted to have got through and delighted to be playing in the final but sometimes you can be masking a cut with a plaster, when I’m wondering why was I pushed around too easily in the first five frames. I can only put it down to Stuart playing lots and lots of tournaments, making him so match sharp.

“If I play in the final like I did in the last three or four frames then I’ll be alright, but what we’re talking about here is consistency. I know I’m capable of that but being capable and doing that at will are two different things.”