Judd Trump won six frames in a row to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-7 in the final of the inaugural 888.com World Grand Prix on Sunday night.
Just as he did in the final of the World Championship last season against Mark Selby, O’Sullivan lost his way in the closing stages and let slip a sizeable lead.
Instead it was 25-year-old Trump who came from 7-4 down to soar to the trophy and £100,000 top prize at this new tournament in Llandudno.
It’s Trump’s second title of the season and first since the Australian Goldfields Open in July.
More significantly for the Bristolian left-hander, he beat O’Sullivan in a major final, and a match over more than one session, for the first time.
O’Sullivan had come out on top when they clashed in the Champion of Champions and UK Championship before Christmas, but this time it was the Ace who held the winning hand.
An exciting final brought to an end a superb week of snooker at Venue Cymru in North Wales. Packed crowds, dramatic matches and a superb location have made this a fine addition to the calendar.
“Not a lot of people come back from that far behind against Ronnie so I’m over the moon,” said Trump.
“I’ve dug in all week. I didn’t play great stuff, nowhere near my best. At 4-1 down, I was getting a little bit frustrated and then it seemed to turn.
“It was a weird game, a bit patchy. In the end I kept calm and got over the line.
‘Great feeling’
“It’s a great feeling to beat Ronnie in a big final for the first time.
“You don’t want to lose too many times in a row against the same player. Two times is already a lot, and going behind 7-4, I thought it was just going to be the same thing.
“I felt comfortable out there. I took confidence from making the 142 to go 7-7, and after that I didn’t really miss a lot.
“I missed the blue in the last frame, but other than that I felt I dominated.
“I’m the sort of player who gets on a roll as soon as I win one or two frames.
“I won the tournament playing a different game to what I’m used to. My safety was probably a lot better than anyone else throughout the whole tournament, and that got me through. If I’m not potting every ball on the table, I need to change the game.”
O’Sullivan, who generously gave his silver runner-up medal to a disabled man in the crowd called Steffan Campbell, said: “I’m disappointed to have lost but I’m proud of my achievements this week.
“Judd’s a bit like Selby. If you go three, four, five frames up, they seem to play better when they’re behind.
“I expected him to come back at me. I wasn’t playing well enough to be able to keep my foot to the pedal.
“I knew I was going to give him chances. Some days you’re not timing the ball well, and today was one of those days.
“Hopefully this tournament is here to stay. It’s a great venue and a great tournament.
“It’s a proper event, you really appreciate the quality of it.”