Ronnie O’Sullivan defeated Judd Trump 18–13 at the Crucible Theatre to claim his seventh World Snooker Championship. He equalled Stephen Hendry’s modern-era record and, at 46, became the oldest world champion in history.
Seven frames out of nine, then a fightback
The final turned in a brutal second session. O’Sullivan arrived overnight holding a narrow lead, then seized seven of the nine frames on Sunday to open a cavernous 12–5 advantage. Trump, the 2019 champion, looked adrift as O’Sullivan piled on three centuries and thirteen further breaks over 50.
Yet the contest was far from finished. Trump found his rhythm in the third session, clawing back to 14–11 and forcing a tense final evening.
The closing session that sealed the record
O’Sullivan returned on Monday and immediately restored order. He built breaks of 82 and 88 to move 16–11 clear. Trump produced a defiant 109 — the tournament’s record 109th century — to stay alive at 17–13.
The end arrived in frame 31. O’Sullivan assembled a clean break of 85 to close the match. He embraced Trump and broke down in tears. “I gave him a big hug at the end and was sobbing in his arms,” O’Sullivan told reporters afterwards.
Twenty-three years after the mark was set
O’Sullivan joined Hendry, who claimed his own seventh crown in 1999. It was his 39th ranking title and 21st Triple Crown success, built on seven Masters and seven UK Championships. He surpassed Ray Reardon as the oldest champion by one year.
His break-building reached a personal peak: 15 centuries across a single Crucible campaign. The run also included a record 30th Crucible appearance and a record 20th quarter-final.
“That’s probably the best result I’ve ever had,” O’Sullivan said. “It was a titanic battle against a strong competitor who is young and hungry.”
Twenty-one years after his first title, O’Sullivan stood on the sport’s highest summit once more.
