O'Sullivan triumphs over Hendry

O'Sullivan has claimed the top prize in Motherwell

Ronnie O'Sullivan's fine form continues as he triumphs over Stephen Hendry 9-6 to claim the Regal Masters title and scoop £62,000 in Motherwell.

The 24-year-old who won the Champions Cup in September and was runner-up in the Grand Prix a last week remained composed despite Hendry making two centuries and three 80 breaks.

The victory, which gives O'Sullivan his 18th professional title, takes the world number four's total prize money to well over £200,000 for the season.

He was particularly pleased to have held his concentration against one of the game's greatest players.

I'm delighted to have won because as far as I'm concerned I've beaten the greatest player who has ever lived

  Ronnie O'Sullivan

"I gave it 100% because you need to do that against a player of Stephen's quality," said O'Sullivan, who first won the Regal Masters title in 1998.

"He hasn't had the best start to the season, but I knew he was playing well and that I'd have to get in and score heavily.

Delighted

"I'm delighted to have won because as far as I'm concerned I've beaten the greatest player who has ever lived."

Hendry, three times the Masters champion, dominated the initial proceedings in fine style with a run of 120 - his first century of the week.

Hendry admitted he made mistakes

But O'Sullivan limited him to only nine points as he went 2-1 ahead.

Leading 3-2, O'Sullivan claimed the sixth to go two frames clear for the first time before Hendry's break of 84 reduced the deficit to 4-3.

But in the final frame of the afternoon, O'Sullivan pounced with 54 to take a two-frame lead into the final session.

After the break, Hendry knocked in a break of 127 - the highest of the match - to again fire back into contention.

But O'Sullivan extended the lead to two frames once more by making it 6-4, aided by a break of 52.

Hendry, beaten in the quarter-finals of the British Open and last 32 at the Grand Prix earlier in October, produced his fifth big break of the match (88) to close to 6-5.

Ronnie was a lot sharper and he made fewer unforced errors

  Stephen Hendry

O'Sullivan bounced back with a break of 76 to make it 7-5 at the final interval.

The Londoner then clinched a three-frame advantage at 8-5 with a break of 62.

Although Hendry brilliantly cleared with 39 to the black in the next O'Sullivan's held firm and clinched the title with breaks of 44 and 74.

Hendry admitted: "I just made two many mistakes and couldn't take my chances when they came along.

"Ronnie was a lot sharper and he made fewer unforced errors - but I'll take some positives from the week as a whole."