Snooker UK Championship: O'Sullivan wins record 7th title

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A sensational Ronnie O'Sullivan has clinched a record seventh UK Championship title after thrashing Mark Allen 10-6 in the final at York's Barbican Centre on Sunday.

The five-time world champion made a valiant fight back after being from 2-1 down to win nine of the last 13 frames for the coveted title. His magnificent performance in the final has also helped him pocket 170,000 pounds of prize money.

The 43-year-old's first title triumph at the prestigious event came in 1993 when he was just 17 years old. He crushed Stephen Hendry in the final to lift his maiden UK title.

Ronnie O'Sullivan competes during day 13 of the Betway UK Championship at the York Barbican in York, UK, December 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Since then O'Sullivan went on to win the championship title in 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017 and 2018 and equaled Steve Davis' record last year by bagging his sixth title.

The Englishman has so far won three tournaments with the other two being the Shanghai Masters and Champion of Champions.

He has also got an envious record of winning 26 out of 28 matches and earned 531,000 pounds in the five tournaments he has contested so far.

After his emphatic record-setting victory, O'Sullivan said, "It was a pleasure to be a part of that final, and if I had lost I would have been devastated."

"As long as I am healthy and fit I think I have another ten years of entertaining. I will always play snooker, that's a given gift. I'll always find a platform, it has to happen. I'm really looking forward to the future, it's exciting," he added.

Ronnie O'Sullivan (L) and Mark Allen (R) shake hands after the Betway UK Championship final at the York Barbican in York, UK, December 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Incidentally, the UK Championship has been regarded as one of the four most important snooker tournaments after the World Championship, the Masters and the International Championship.

The interest of Chinese fans for the UK Championship has witnessed a steady rise since 2005 when China's Ding Junhui won the title. Ding repeated his title-winning performance in 2009.