RONNIE O’SULLIVAN believed he was out for the count in his Coral UK Championship semi-final against Stuart Bingham - but the Rocket somehow came off the canvas to land a knock-out blow.

The Rocket trailed 4-1 in the best-of-11 clash at the York Barbican, admitting afterwards the Basildon potter was giving him a “good hiding”.

But O’Sullivan, searching for his fifth UK title, showed a never-say-die attitude to haul himself back from the brink and win the last two frames for a stunning 6-5 victory.

“If it was a boxing match they would definitely have stopped it and you would be talking to Stuart Bingham as the winner,” said O’Sullivan.

“The first five frames - he gave me a good hiding - and I couldn’t compete to be honest. I thought ‘if he keeps playing like that it is 6-1 all day long’.

“I was lucky to get a frame. He just out-foxed me, out-potted me, out-scored me and he just looked so comfortable around the table. I got away with that one. I got lucky.”

While expressing joy at reaching another final, O’Sullivan indicated he may be set to play a heavier tournament schedule in the future - arguing his, at times, lacklustre play was caused by not competing enough.

He explained: “I am delighted to have won, delighted to have got through and delighted to be playing in the final. Sometimes you can just be masking a cut with a plaster when, really, the deeper root is that I’ll be looking at that match thinking ‘why was I pushed around so easily in the first five frames?’

“I can only put it down to that Stuart plays lots and lots of tournaments. He is so match drilled and match sharp that going out there just feels like getting your cue out down the snooker club.

“He feels so relaxed and confident in match-type conditions.

“I have got away with it three times this week. I can produce moments of inspiration but, in 2012/13, I was doing that virtually in every match to people.

“I didn’t realise it but it felt so easy to me. Even if I didn’t think I was playing well I would win comfortably.

“The ball is in my court. If I want to get that feeling back then I need to play a bit more.”

The match turned in the sixth frame when Bingham, having built his comfortable advantage with breaks of 66, 49, 73 and a 137 clearance, missed two easy reds and gave the Rocket a foothold.

O’Sullivan clawed his way to parity with 62, 68 and 67 only to go 5-4 behind.

But, in the tenth frame, Bingham missed a difficult pink into the yellow pocket and Ronnie pounced again - producing a sublime 117 before closing out the match with a break of 94.

Asked whether he was feted to get his name on the trophy tomorrow night, O’Sullivan said: “I don’t believe in fate. I believe you make your own luck, you create your own destiny. I have pulled that one out of the bag but I am still not playing consistently to the level I was playing in 2012/13.

“I am drawing on a lot of experience and a never-say-die attitude. I know if I keep close to people that, coming down the final straight, it’s a different ball game.

“You can’t keep holding on to people. You want to keep pulling away and getting some distance yourself. I am not a lover of coming from behind.

“If I play like I did in the last three to four frames I will be all right.”

Bingham confessed he had been looking ahead to the final as he let O’Sullivan back into the game.

“It was when I actually thought about the final,” he said. “I was thinking it wasn’t every day you get a chance to go to the UK final and that was it.

“I just lost my timing for a few frames. At 5-4 up, I thought ‘just give me a chance, give me a sniff’. I missed a pink into the yellow pocket. It was so close I thought it was in.

“He made a 100 from that and I didn’t get a chance in the last.”