Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Judd Trump for record-equalling seventh Crucible title

Ronnie O’Sullivan is snooker’s world champion for a seventh time, as the greatest player in the sport’s history moved level with Stephen Hendry on the most Crucible titles won in the modern era after defeating Judd Trump in a thrilling final in Sheffield.

O’Sullivan led 12-5 overnight in the meeting of the sport’s two most entertaining players, with many returning to Sheffield on Monday wondering when, not if, the 46-year-old would collect the six frames required to win the world crown for a seventh time. However, Trump won six of the eight frames in Monday’s afternoon session to reduce the gap to three and threaten one of the most remarkable comebacks in Crucible history.

But O’Sullivan returned for the evening session in the form which has seen him saunter through to yet another final in Sheffield, and despite yet more valiant play from Trump, O’Sullivan ultimately ensured he would draw level with Hendry on seven world titles, the most of any player in the Crucible era, and all but remove any remaining doubt about his status as the greatest player ever to pick up a snooker cue.

Breaks of 82, 88 and 75 in the first four frames of the evening session took him to the brink of the title and the £500,000 winner’s cheque, and while Trump responded after the mid-session interval with a century break to narrow the deficit, he still had to win the remaining five frames without reply to deny O’Sullivan snooker immortality.

However, in the following frame, Trump left the door ajar for The Rocket and, in perhaps fitting fashion, he secured his seventh world crown with an exhilarating break of 85 to ensure he reigns supreme in the game once again, winning the biggest prize in the sport in a third different decade in the process.