O’sullivan wins six frames on the trot to lift record seventh UK title

SNOOKER: Ronnie O’sullivan claimed a record-breaking seventh UK Championship title with a 10-6 victory over Mark Allen at the York Barbican last night. His triumph, which came a quarter of a century after he won his first United Kingdom crown as a 17-year-old, also saw O’sullivan nudge ahead of Stephen Hendry with 19 ‘triple crown’ titles, comprising the World and UK Championships and the Masters.

The 43-year-old reeled off six consecutive frames to establish a four-frame advantage at the interval and despite a brief rally by his opponent he wrapped up victory with a break of 78. It capped a tumultuous tournament for O’sullivan, who had threatened to launch a breakaway tour, then required a final-frame decider to edge past veteran Ken Doherty in round two.