Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed a record-extending eighth Masters title at Alexandra Palace on Sunday, defeating Ali Carter 10–7 in a final that turned sharply after midnight. At 48, he became both the oldest and youngest winner of the sport's most prestigious invitation event.
Six down, seven to go
The evening session started with O'Sullivan trailing 3–6. Carter had built that lead through a disciplined afternoon, compiling a 106 in the second frame and closing the first session 5–3 up.
When Carter took the opening frame of the evening, the deficit widened to three. The contest appeared to be slipping away.
Thirty-seven minutes that flipped the match
O'Sullivan then produced a burst of fluency. He reeled off three frames in just 37 minutes, drawing level at 6–6 without Carter potting a meaningful ball.
Carter responded with a break of 127 to edge ahead once more. But O'Sullivan stayed close, waited for the errors, and won seven of the final eight frames.
A season mapping new territory
The victory followed his eighth UK Championship in December, making him the first player to win the opening two Triple Crown events of a campaign. Only Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams have swept all three in a single season.
"I don't know how I've won this tournament, to be honest with you," O'Sullivan told the BBC. "I've just dug deep… if he's going to win it he's going to have to scrape me off the table."
The Paul Hunter Trophy returned to hands that first held it 29 years ago, when O'Sullivan was 19. That span has no parallel in the game.
