Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker: Sublime Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Luca Brecel to win inaugural title

Ronnie O’Sullivan was in imperious form as he beat Luca Brecel 5-2 to win the inaugural Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker.

It was a heavyweight clash between two of the sport’s most entertaining players and it lived up to the billing as both appeared close to their fluent best.

‘The Rocket’ was on the back foot when he fell 2-1 behind, but he rattled off four successive frames, including two centuries, to add another title to his roll of honour and pocket the £250,000 top prize.

“It’s been a fantastic tournament, brilliant venue and the crowd have been amazing,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport.

“To have snooker back in the Middle East, we’ve been treated so fantastically well. All the players have enjoyed it and we’d be so grateful to come back here.”

Brecel had the first chance of the best-of-nine encounter but managed just three points before missing with the rest to allow O’Sullivan to get his hand on the table.

Cheered on by the biggest crowd of the week, the seven-time world champion made a break of 95 to take an early lead, missing the final blue for the century.

Brecel hit back immediately. An unfortunate split of the pack on 48 left ‘The Belgian Bullet’ having to play safe, but when a kick thwarted O’Sullivan’s response, he returned to restore parity at 1-1.

That quickly became 2-1 after Brecel capitalised on nailing a third long red in as many frames to make a rapid-fire break of 81 and move ahead.

With all the momentum, the reigning world champion looked set to press home his advantage in the next, but he offered O’Sullivan a lifeline when he missed a black off the spot, an opportunity The Rocket pounced on with a clearance of 94 to level again at 2-2.

And that proved to be the turning point of the match. A 121 – the first century of the final – after the interval restored O’Sullivan’s lead, and he got within one of the title after winning a scrappy sixth for 4-2.

With his back up against the wall, Brecel missed an ambitious plant and split the pack, leaving the reds spread for O’Sullivan, and he made no mistake, sealing the title in fitting fashion with a dazzling century.

To go with all his other achievements, O’Sullivan is now the first player in the history of the sport to win a tournament in Saudi Arabia, and he also breaks the record for the most prize money earned in a season.