O’Sullivan keeps £1million ‘Ronnie Slam’ dream alive as he becomes oldest Masters champ ever… but can’t even lift trophy

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has become the OLDEST champion of the Masters – 29 years after he became the YOUNGEST.

But his elbow was so sore that he couldn’t even lift the trophy!

Getty

Ronnie O’Sullivan won his eighth Masters title with victory over Ali Carter[/caption]

Getty

O’Sullivan’s elbow was too sore to lift the trophy… so his kids picked it up instead[/caption]

Yet following his 10-7 victory over Ali Carter, the £1million Ronnie Slam is still on this season as he chases perfection in the snooker Triple Crowns.

Despite not being anywhere near his fluid best, while struggling with the effects of jetlag, the world No.1 killed the hopes of Carter’s big breakthrough at Ally Pally.

Stuart Bingham had been the oldest winner aged 43 in 2020 but that has been overtaken in the record books by the ageless O’Sullivan, who is 48 years and 40 days.

It is 23rd success across the three big tournaments in the sport and underlines his outstanding longevity given he won the first of eight Masters aged 19 in 1995.

The Essex cueman can cash a cheque for £250,000 – the same figure he earned for the UK Championship in December – and there will be £500,000 on the line at the Crucible.

Yet O’Sullivan, who is wearing trainers due to painful feet, could not lift the heavy trophy as a result of a sore elbow… so his kids lifted the title instead.

Of the 50 Masters finals in history, O’Sullivan has been in 14 of them but while he might love this 16-player tournament, he does not exactly love the location.

In his mind, Ally Pally is one of his least favourite destinations on the World Snooker Tour circuit – a complete contrast to the luxurious surroundings he experiences in trips to China or Macau.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

In the build-up, he slammed the conditions the players have to endure backstage, claiming it was cold, damp and dirty and there were even bins in the car park.

Such is his disdain for this 149-year-old venue, which has hosted the Masters since 2012, he refused to practise there before the afternoon session, deciding to arrive just before 1pm.

When he was on the table, O’Sullivan decided to try kamikaze snooker, going for outrageous shots and not playing the percentages.

One brazen attempt at a two cross double red did not come off and left him open to an attack.

Watching from the TV studios, Shaun Murphy suggested the manoeuvre was “a bit of a mickey-take” while Stephen Hendry felt the GOAT was trying to “bully” Carter.

To his credit, Carter was not overawed by his opponent, something he has taken from regular tutorials from mind guru Chris Henry, and bossed the afternoon session to lead 5-3.

Breaks of 106, 122 and 74 saw him capitalise on the wild shots by O’Sullivan.

It carried on the exceptional form that had seen him depose of Mark Williams, Judd Trump and Mark Allen in a flurry of centuries.

Getty

The Rocket found himself 6-3 down before coming back to win 10-7[/caption]

He is now the youngest and the oldest player to win the MastersAFP

In the three-hour window between sessions, O’Sullivan checked into a nearby hotel, chilled out and left his cue propped up against the wall.

His mum, daughter, son and solicitor were present in the 2,100-strong crowd and this brought its own pressures as they rarely all come to events unless it is significant.

The question in everyone’s thoughts was whether Carter – who had lost 17 of his 18 previous proper meetings with O’Sullivan – could hold it together in the pressurised moments to claim a first Triple Crown win.

The signs were good in the opening frame of the evening session which Carter grinded out to take a three-frame advantage at 6-3 up.

However, O’Sullivan does what he does best to win three frames on the spin in 37 minutes to level up at 6-6 apiece – all in the blink of an eye.

Carter responded to that threat with a superb 127 – his NINTH century from four matches.

Nobody, not even O’Sullivan, Steve Davis or Stephen Hendry, in half a century of this tournament has hit more tons than the Colchester cueist.

Referee Ben Williams tried his best to calm down some of the rowdy fans who made their voices heard at inappropriate times during frame 14.

Carter, 44, did not do an awful lot wrong but when O’Sullivan is in this mood, he is seemingly unstoppable.

Getty

O’Sullivan and his family were delighted with the win[/caption]

Getty

The Rocket was caught off-guard by the confetti[/caption]

Once he was ahead at 8-7, O’Sullivan won the next two frames and further cemented his position as the best there has ever.

O’Sullivan, who celebrated with his family, said: “I don’t know how I won this tournament.

“I have just dug deep, tried to play with freedom. I wanted to keep Ali honest. If he is going to win it, he is going to have to scrape me off the table.

“I wasn’t worried about the score. My mindest was not to worry about frames or the score, just keep playing and see what happens.

“Ali didn’t play great tonight, he played better this afternoon. He let me off the hook. It gave me breathing space.

“I have had an amazing career, love playing and competing. The crowd have always been good to me over the years.

“That is the one thing I take from my career, the support I have had. To all the snooker fans, thank you for your support over the years. I will keep trying until I cannot pot anymore balls.

“I have never been driven by titles or numbers. I have wanted to play well and compete.

“Picking up trophies is a bonus. That is my not drive. I have tried to master this game, I have yet to do so, but I will keep trying.

“Listen, I always have a good idea the Worlds about February or March if my game is in good enough shape.

“At the moment it’s not good enough to win it. I would like to go there with confidence, it will be longer sessions.”

Carter added:  “He is beginning to annoy me. It has been a good week. I am gutted I lost the final. It is all about winning. I would have taken a run to the final.

“A lot of good things to come from me. I am heading in the right direction. Ronnie played very well at the end.

“When you play Ronnie, you are playing the crowd as well, you have to accept that. I tried my best but it wasn’t good enough.”