Ronnie's on a roll

O'Sullivan and Ebdon have been in great form this season

By BBC Sport Online's Steve Cresswell

The early tournaments of the 2000/2001 season have certainly provided Ronnie O'Sullivan with plenty of happy memories and also a major boost to his bank balance.

'Rocket Ronnie' has already accrued more than £200,000 and added two titles to his collection this season, finished runner-up in another and also made the quarter-finals.

He began with a thrilling fightback against Mark Williams to claim the £100,000 Champions Cup at the Brighton Centre in September.

Champions Cup

Welshman Williams raced into a 4-1 lead before O'Sullivan stormed back to take six out of the final seven frames and record a 7-5 victory in the season's opener.

Mark Williams was hit by table trouble in Plymouth

O'Sullivan compiled breaks of 95, 91, 78, 77 and 66 once given the chance to spend some time at the table and Williams, who complained of feeling unwell, became a mere spectator.

The Champions Cup was to be marred however by news that Stephen Lee tested positive for marijuana.

The 26-year-old was ordered to attend a World Snooker Association disciplinary committee hearing in Bristol on 14 November to determine whether he breached their rules.

British Open

There were further controversies and interruptions at the British Open in Plymouth at the start of October.

After John Higgins hit out at the lack of new sponsors being attracted into the sport, Mark Williams and Mark King walked out of their Third Round game due to the unevenness of the table.

The three hour delay to proceedings didn't do Williams any favours as King recorded a 5-3 victory.

Elsewhere Alan McManus came out on top in the battle of the Scots as he overcame holder Stephen Hendry 5-2.

But Peter Ebdon was to have too much for McManus in the semi-finals as he moved into his second British Open final in two years and this time around he would be victorious.

Even while Ebdon was on his way to a 9-6 victory over Jimmy White that would pocket him a cheque for £62,000, there were further headlines being made away from the table.

Fortunately these were of a more light-hearted nature as a female streaker took a turn on centre stage.

Grand Prix

Following his blast about the future development of the sport during the British Open, John Higgins was once again expressing his displeasure at snooker's organisers in Telford.

John Higgins put his brother's wedding first

The problem this time was that, contrary to assurances that the Scot said he had received, the quarter-finals were scheduled to clash with the wedding of his elder brother.

Higgins warned that if he reached the last eight he would withdraw from the event and he duly proved as good as his word.

That left the way clear for Mark Williams and Ronnie O'Sullivan to book another last two meeting and on this occasion it was the Welshman who came out on top with a 9-5 victory.

Regal Masters

O'Sullivan's disappointment was to prove short-lived though as within a week he added the Regal Masters in Motherwell to his collection and he did so in some style.

A quarter-final victory over John Higgins followed a defeat of Jimmy White, while it was his turn to come out on top in the duel with Mark Williams in the semi-final's.

And then in the final he recorded his second Regal Masters victory in three years with a 9-6 win over three-time winner Stephen Hendry.