Ronnie O'Sullivan withstood a brave comeback from Judd Trump in the final of the Champion of Champions in Bolton, eventually prevailing 10-6.
O'Sullivan was winning the coveted title for a fourth time – adding to his victories in 2013, 2014 and 2018 – but he was briefly made to sweat by his opponent who lit up the afternoon session when compiling the seventh 147 maximum break of his professional career, a feat that proved the springboard for a stirring fightback in the middle part of match.
Until then, the final had proved a distinctly one-sided affair as O'Sullivan dominated the early exchanges, only for Trump to burst into life by winning five frames out of six to claw his way from 6-1 down to only 7-6 behind.
In the end, his efforts were to be in vain as O'Sullivan regained the initiative with a stunning run of 124 in frame 14 – his third century of the day – before a loose safety from Trump allowed O'Sullivan to move within a frame of victory as he put together a typically assured hand of 85.
With Trump fast running out of rope, last year's champion snatched at a red early in the sixteenth frame, and O'Sullivan didn't blink as he calmly crossed the winning line with a superb, match-winning break of 81.
O'Sullivan dominates first session despite Trump maximum
Judd Trump made a magnificent 147 maximum break, but it is Ronnie O'Sullivan who is in charge of the Champion of Champions final having surged into a 6-3 lead in Bolton.
Trump's magic moment came in frame eight when, having slipped 6-1 behind to a rampant O'Sullivan, the defending champion finally found his touch to compile the seventh maximum break of his career, and only the second in the tournament's history.
The defending had clearly set his sights on the maximum early in the break, turning down a simple pink to the centre pocket in favour of a much more difficult black when the frame was still live and the balls inviting for an O'Sullivan counter.
When the black dropped, Trump had a clear path to the 147 and the job was all but complete when he potted the brown from mid-range and landed perfectly on the blue.
Trump pumped his fist in delight, his first real moment of cheer having until then failed to make his mark on a final that had appeared to be slipping from his grasp, and he breathed further life into the match when claiming the final frame of the afternoon with a run of 96 to reduce his arrears to 6-3.
