World Championship title sponsors Betfred has generously donated £25,000 to the Haven House Children’s Hospice.

Fred Done, Boss of Betfred, said before the start of the tournament that he would donate £200 for every century made in this year’s competition, which would be topped up to £25,000 if there were 75 or more. Unfortunately, despite a good start to the ton count, the total was a little short at 71. However, Fred was more than happy to top up the donation to ensure Haven House received the full amount.

He said: ‘After the final we had a quick steward’s enquiry and decided to pay out anyway after such a fantastic tournament.
“I would like to thank all the players for their magnificent effort and congratulations to Ronnie.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the 2012 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship after an 18-11 victory over Ali Carter.

The Rocket picked up his fourth Crucible title and his first since 2008 after a sublime 17 days, beating three former world champions to pick up the crown.

The sponsors Betfred have given O’Sullivan a quote of 9/2 to retain his trophy next year in Sheffield following his latest victory.

At one stage this afternoon it looked as though we could have had the rare case of the final finishing with a session to spare but the Captain Ali Carter dug deep when he looked a beaten man to prolong the match into the evening at the very least.

When the players resume at 7.30pm the Rocket will have a 15-10 advantage and needs just three more frames for his fourth World Championship.

There were two centuries this afternoon to bring the tally to 71 for the tournament, so four more are required to reach the magical total of 75, and as a result, a £25,000 donation from the sponsor, Fred Done, to the Haven House Children’s Hospice. Fred has already donated just over £14,000 after he kindly decided to donate £250 per century break in this year’s competition.

The Rocket Ronnie O’Sullivan has established a 10-7 lead going into the final day of the 2012 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship.

The opening two sessions of the final were a cagey affair but did include a 141 break from O’Sullivan, the highest break in any Crucible final.

Carter won the final frame of the evening to reduce his deficit to three frames and critically hang in there with the three-time winner of this title.

The action today gets underway at 2.30pm. O’Sullivan is as short at 1/12, while a Carter victory is as big as 12/1.

The century count so far this tournament is up to 69 so we need six more today to reach the figure of 75 where Fred will round up his donation to £25,000 to the Haven House Children’s Hospice. The players has raised just under £14,000 so far after Fred decided to give £200 to the fantastic charity for every break over 100.

Enjoy the final day of what has been a fantastic tournament and be lucky if you are having a punt!

It’s the battle of Essex this afternoon as Ronnie O’Sullivan takes on Ali Carter in a repeat of the 2008 Crucible final.

The Rocket overcame Matthew Stevens to reach his fourth final, while the Captain put out Scotsman Stephen Maguire to reach this stage.

O’Sullivan was a comfortable 18-8 winner back in 2008 but a closer contest is expected this time.