RECORD RON TOPS DAVIS AND HENDRY
BY NEIL GOULDING RONNIE O’SULLIVAN laid claim to being snooker’s greatest of all time last night as he shattered records belonging to Scot Stephen Hendry and England’s Steve Davis.
The Rocket defeated Masters champion Mark Allen 10-6 to win a seventh UK Championship at York’s Barbican Centre.
O’Sullivan’s 19th Triple Crown win (World, UK or Masters) sees him eclipse Hendry’s total of 18 and Davis’s six UK titles.
“It’s great to create history,” said O’Sullivan after pocketing the £170,000 first prize.
“It’s great to beat the Nugget’s record of UK titles and it’s amazing to beat Hendry’s major record – he was my hero.
“I played very well today and it’s great to get those records. It’s special.”
O’Sullivan then praised Allen and tipped him to be world champion one day.
He said: “It was a tough match and if Mark doesn’t win the world title I’ll be so surprised because it’s not just about talent, it’s about bottle, courage and he’s got that in abundance.
“You need that to win titles. I played very well and I was still having to convince myself to believe I could win because that’s how hard a match it felt.” O’Sullivan continues to chip away at snooker’s best records with only Hendry’s 36 ranking titles and seven world titles left.
And victory was extra sweet for the defending champion who marked the 25th anniversary of his maiden UK title win in 1993, at just 17, by winning this year’s event.
O’Sullivan, who turned 43 this month, is still the man to beat, having won three titles, reached a final and a semi-final already in his five events this season.
The Rocket powered into a commanding 6-2 lead going into the concluding session.
Northern Irishman Allen rallied last night but the world No.3 soon wrapped up the match.
Allen said: “I’m a part of history. To beat Davis’s record and Hendry’s majors he is something special.
“Hopefully he p ***** off to this breakaway tour.”