O'Sullivan's Champion display

Ronnie O'Sullivan retained his Champion of Champions title in Coventry by defeating Judd Trump in a closely-contested final.

The five-time world champion cruised into an 8-3 lead before Trump rallied to 8-7 in the first-to-10 contest at the Ricoh Arena.

But O'Sullivan got to the line first to take a 10-7 win and a £100,000 cheque.

The 39-year-old played with the kind of consistency which eluded him in his early days, compiling breaks of 137, 78, 80, 87, 134, 139, 70, 70 and 109, before a rot-stopping 63 to go out to 9-7 which proved the most valuable.

Trump - who made 102 and 100 himself - was in control of the match at that point but O'Sullivan gave himself a chance with the knock made without use of the blue or black.

Even then Trump was not done and had a chance to clear on the colours to force a re-spot, but he went in-off the green.

Trump decided he had nothing to lose after that and took on a long red at the start of the 17th. He got nowhere near and O'Sullivan slammed in a fourth century of the match and a seventh of the week. Four of the top five breaks also have his name next to them.

"I just played as well as I could," O'Sullivan said. "I would like to say well done to Judd as he had a great tournament.

“He pots so well and doesn't get worried that I didn't know what to do today."

Return to form

O'Sullivan's return to form is charted back to him starting to work with renowned psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters.

Since the two teamed up, O'Sullivan has rekindled a previously-absent passion for a sport in which he is considered to be the greatest of all time.

"If I'd have lost I'd have said the same thing, you can't ask for more than that and you want to keep playing," he added.

"I was happy to be involved in one of the best matches you'll see.

"I was playing like this when I was 15, 16 and then I played rubbish for 16 years but I hung in because I'm stubborn. Since I've been working with Steve Peters I have found the form I was always capable of.

"I'm enjoying it, I hope it lasts, but when it ends, it ends."

Trump admitted there was little he could do to stop the force of O'Sullivan.

"I take a lot of positives because the way Ronnie played is the best anyone has played. I marvelled at him making it look so easy and that's one of the best performances I've seen from anyone in any sport."

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