The "Rocket" won 10-9 and received his fifth title after Judd Trump played out of his skin to win five consecutive frames and draw the scores level on 9-9. Trump came back from 9-4 but was unable to clinch the final frame decider in an epic UK Championship final.
This Championship final turned out to be an absolute classic; the "Rocket" O' Sullivan, known for his rapid playing style, raced towards victory and his fifth title, when he had a 5-1 lead midway through the afternoon session. At this point Trump looked lost, he showed an immaturity in the opening exchanges and was not sufficiently composed when coming to the table.
However, Trump fought back after the break and clinched the final two frames of the afternoon session, to make it 5-3. O'Sullivan's counter-attacking play took him to a 7-3 lead, and this resulted in the score being 9-4; there was some superb cueing by the "Rocket" and it all appeared to be done and dusted for the four-time champion, before Trump pulled back to astonishing 9-9.
The match was billed as a great attacking show with two quick, exciting players who play the game with a swagger and panache. O'Sullivan appeared to be running away with the match, but the "Ace in the Pack" showed just why he is considered as definitely the second most naturally talented young player in the game today.
Trump, 25, turned professional in 2005.
The pair met in the Champion of Champions final last month, when O'Sullivan put in a classy performance in which he made four centuries and won 10-7.
The 39 year-old suffered a broken ankle before the tournament began, and appeared to be showing some signs of agony in earlier rounds, as he grimaced his way thought the opening sessions and complained about the tables.
Nevertheless, O'Sullivan showed no signs of decline 21 years after he won the same tournament for the first time in 1993, as an 18 year-old who became professional at the age of 16.
O'Sullivan has now won the triple crown of the World's, Masters' and UK's five times - a true legend of the game!
