• Champion of Champions

O'Sullivan sees off Trump challenge to seal title

Ronnie O'Sullivan stopped a Judd Trump fightback to claim the Champion of Champions title in Coventry © Getty Images

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Ronnie O'Sullivan retained his Champion of Champions title in Coventry by seeing off Judd Trump in a high-class battle.

O'Sullivan looked to be cruising at 8-3 ahead before Trump roared back to 8-7 in the first-to-10 contest at the Ricoh Arena. But the Rocket had enough about him to get to the line first and take a 10-7 win and a £100,000 cheque.

Age is serving to make O'Sullivan better, with the five-time world champion, who turns 39 next month, retaining the consistency that so often eluded him in his early days.

His numbers against Trump were simply stunning, compiling breaks of 137, 78, 80, 87, 134, 139, 70, 70 and 109, but a rot-stopping 63 to go out to 9-7 proved to be the most valuable.

"I just played as well as I could," O'Sullivan told ITV. "I would like to say well done to Judd as he had a great tournament. He pots so well and doesn't get worried that I didn't know what to do today."

The revival of O'Sullivan's career is charted back to him starting working with renowned psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters. Since the two teamed up, O'Sullivan has rekindled a previously-absent passion for a sport in which he is considered to be the greatest of all time.

"If I'd have lost I'd have said the same thing, you can't ask for more than that and you want to keep playing," he added. "I was happy to be involved in one of the best matches you'll see.

"I was playing like this when I was 15, 16 and then I played rubbish for 16 years but I hung in because I'm stubborn. Since I've been working with Steve Peters I have found the form I was always capable of. I'm enjoying it, I hope it lasts, but when it ends, it ends."

Trump admitted there was little he could do to stop the force of O'Sullivan. "I take a lot of positives because the way Ronnie played is the best anyone has played," he said. "I marvelled at him making it look so easy and that's one of the best performances I've seen from anyone in any sport."

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