Mark Selby collected his first major title by storming to a 10-3 victory over Stephen Lee in the SAGA Insurance Masters final at Wembley Arena on Sunday.
After a slow start to the match, Selby gathered strength as it progressed, coming from 3-2 down to win the last eight consecutive frames. He made four centuries during the match, finishing in sensational fashion with back-to-back tons, including a high-break equalling 141 total clearance.
The 24-year-old becomes only the third player to make the Masters their first title, after Doug Mountjoy and Perrie Mans. He is the fifth player to win the tournament on his Wembley debut, after John Spencer, Mountjoy, Terry Griffiths and Stephen Hendry.
"I seemed to be in the zone today, I felt relaxed from the word go," Selby, who will take part in the Malta Cup next month, said after his victory. "It was as if I was playing on the practice table. There were no nerves at all at the end, in the last frame I just wanted to win it in one visit.
"In fact I was so relaxed I didn't realise I had a chance to make the high break, and ended up equalling it with 141.
"Getting to the world final at the Crucible last year gave me the self-belief and my confidence has come on leaps and bounds since then. I think other players will respect me more now that I've won a major tournament, and it's also given me the belief that I can win more titles.
"Since I was a kid, all I've wanted to do is win tournaments, and there's no reason why I can't win more this season."
Wiltshire's 33-year-old Lee started promisingly in the first session, but faded badly after falling behind.
Glaring errors
His top break of the match was just 41, in the opening frame, and in the closing stages he committed an hatful of glaring errors.
The world No. 13 was denied his first Masters title and had to settle for the runners-up prize of £68,000. "It's very disappointing because I felt awful today, totally flat," Lee said.
"There was no fire or adrenaline there. I didn't celebrate at all last night, but maybe the semis took it out of me. All of my hard work has been undone.
"I felt better going into tonight's session but Mark settled first and he's a worthy champion.
"He looked good under pressure and I was impressed by the way he got over the line."