Ronnie O’Sullivan grabbed a share of two of snooker’s great records as he landed his sixth Betway UK Championship title in stunning fashion.
The 42-year-old crushed 2008 champion Shaun Murphy’s hopes of a second success at the tournament as he pulled away in the evening to clinch a 10-5 victory at the York Barbican.
O’Sullivan racked up breaks of 75, 104, 76, 103, 86 and 59 in a session where he produced a performance of the highest quality, swiftly and majestically tying up victory and pocketing the £170,000 top prize.
Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Shaun Murphy 10-5 to win the 2017 @betway UK Championship!
It’s a record-equalling 6th UK title for the Rocket! ?#baizeofglory pic.twitter.com/9W8AK0Nomd
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) December 10, 2017
In triumphing for a sixth time, he matched Steve Davis for the most wins at this event. And O’Sullivan also hauled himself level with Stephen Hendry’s all-time record of 18 titles at the sport’s Triple Crown majors – the UK Championship, World Championship and Masters.
There is no sign of the Rocket slowing down, unlike Hendry and Davis who by this stage in their careers had entered a steep decline.
And there is little doubt the man who first landed the UK title as a 17-year-old in 1993 could claim both records outright and others to boot before his career winds down. That is despite hinting he could sit out next year’s UK Championship in favour of a stint in the I’m A Celebrity jungle.
“I’m over the moon to win any tournament, let alone the UK Championship. I just love playing and love competing and I can’t believe I’m still playing at 42, with all these grey hairs.”
Murphy praised O’Sullivan for taking his sixth UK title, saying: “It’s an absolute phenomenal achievement.
“It’s not the end I wanted to the fortnight I’ve had.”
“The better man won tonight.” ?@Magician147 gracious in defeat, full praise for the champ.#baizeofglory @betway pic.twitter.com/H2ERgoL6ko
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) December 10, 2017
Murphy had high hopes heading into the evening, after pulling back from 4-2 to 4-4 by the end of the afternoon session, and having beaten O’Sullivan over best-of-19 in the recent Champion of Champions tournament.
But despite making an 80 to level at 5-5, he was reduced to the role of spectator for agonisingly long stretches.
Murphy missed the seventh black in a 147 maximum break attempt in the 14th frame, and O’Sullivan made his 86, each ball dropping into the pocket a dagger to the heart of his opponent.
Absolute belter of a ? from @Magician147!#baizeofglory @betway pic.twitter.com/bVV7lTiRLl
— World Snooker (@WorldSnooker1) December 10, 2017
There was no stopping O’Sullivan, who finished the match with a break of 49 before Murphy stepped forward to offer warm congratulations.
