Post by Salem6 on Feb 9, 2004 11:36:44 GMT
By Clive Jones
BBC Sport at Wembley
Paul Hunter roared back to win an epic final as he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9 to win his third title in four years.
O'Sullivan looked to be cruising to victory as he took a 6-2 first session lead then made it 7-2 at the start of the evening session.
But Hunter refused to buckle and took his tally of centuries in the match to five before hauling himself level.
O'Sullivan led again at 9-8 but Hunter fought back once more to level and then clinched a nail-biting decider.
Hunter once again proved he is the Houdini of The Masters after his superb comeback.
Hunter won the title in 2001 with a 10-9 victory over Fergal O'Brien after trailing 7-3 at one stage.
In the following year he was trailing Mark Williams 5-0 before retaining the title with another 10-9 triumph.
"I knew I had it in me to come back because I have done it before and I felt I could do it again.
"When I was 6-1 down, I was still enjoying myself.
"Ronnie punished me in the afternoon session but I was pleased with the way I came back and made some good breaks.
"For me to be able to compete in a final against Ronnie at Wembley is a dream come true and I just concentrated on my game when I got to the table."
O'Sullivan was philosophical after his defeat.
"I was a little disappointed, but it is only a game of snooker. Someone has to win and someone has to lose and this time it was my turn to lose," he said.
"Paul is a tough competitor and he came back at me with some great breaks. He thoroughly deserved to win and I am happy for him and his family."
Video:-
Masters champion Paul Hunter
"I played really well even when I was 6-2 down"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39837000/rm/_39837157_sport_hunter_vi.ram
Masters final: frame-by-frame
Frame-by-frame review of Paul Hunter's stunning 10-9 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Masters final.
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Hunter 10-9 O'Sullivan
Hunter completes a quite amazing comeback to pip O'Sullivan by the narrowest of margins after a protracted safety battle.
It is Hunter's third Masters title, all won by a score of 10-9.
Hunter 9-9 O'Sullivan
After an enthralling safety battle, the longest frame of the match goes the way of Hunter as his astonishing comeback continues. One loose safety shot from O'Sullivan allows hunter into the balls and he clears up brilliantly.
Hunter 8-9 O'Sullivan
Hunter refuses to accept defeat and takes another frame with another century. The standard of play is reaching new levels as a nerveless Hunter pushes O'Sullivan all the way.
Hunter 7-9 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan finally regains something approaching his best form as he moves to within one frame of the title. A missed rd to the middle proves costly for Hunter who can afford no more slip ups.
Hunter 7-8 O'Sullivan
Another century break from Hunter sees the gap narrow to a single frame again. The 25-year-old has dragged himself back into the running and is starting to look like he cannot miss when he gets in amongst the balls.
Hunter 6-8 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan gains a little bit of breathing space as in another scrappy and error strewn frame he edges the frame with two modest breaks.
Hunter 6-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter puts himself right back into contention with yet another frame. He pulls off several fabulous long pots to keep breaks going. The balls are starting to run his way now and another Hunter Masters comeback is very much on the cards.
Hunter 5-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter wins his third frame in a row and is looking full of confidence. O'Sullivan has slipped slightly from the incredibly high standards of his afternoon session.
Hunter 4-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter is showing signs of a fightback as he starts to gain some momentum of his own. A lovely break of 102 - his third century of the match - takes him back to within three frames of O'Sullivan.
Hunter 3-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter stops the rot with a morale-boosting frame. O'Sullivan does not punish a couple of Hunter errors in a scrappy period of play, but Hunter still has an enormous task on his hands.
Hunter 2-7 O'Sullivan
In the first frame of the evening session, Hunter wastes the chance to launch his response to O'Sullivan's afternoon assault, as some careless position play stops a promising break in its tracks. O'Sullivan does not quite hit the heights, but does enough to win the frame.
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Hunter 2-6 O'Sullivan
Hunter shows great character to win the final frame of the afternoon session with a flawless break of 126 to give himself hope of an evening comeback.
Hunter 1-6 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan is looking unstoppable as he takes yet another frame with some fantastic break building. Hunter seems shell-shocked as O'Sullivan pops in a 45 then turns the screw further with a break of 79 to stretch his lead.
Hunter 1-5 O'Sullivan
Hunter pays the price for a double kiss on a missed red and O'Sullivan makes him pay dearly as he knocks in another 80+ break. O'Sullivan's awesome form is in danger of turning the match into a non-contest.
Hunter 1-4 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan shows no signs of taking his foot off the pedal after the mid-session interval. An 87 break is enough to clinch the frame and leave Hunter with plenty of work to do.
Hunter 1-3 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan regains a two-frame advantage after a high quality break of 86. The standard of play from both players is extremely high with the slightest mistake punished in unforgiving fashion.
Hunter 1-2 O'Sullivan
Hunter responds in style and a great opening red gives him the chance to clear up the table with a brilliant break of 117 to get himself on the scoresheet.
Hunter 0-2 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan carries on from where he left off and a fluent 80 break gives him the second frame with Hunter still trying to settle down.
Hunter 0-1 O'Sullivan
Both players make a tentative start before O'Sullivan pounces on an overly aggressive Hunter safety shot to make a break of 56 - enough to give him the opening frame.
++++++
Wot a match! Ronnie couldn't shake him off, Hunter was just too strong = CLASS performance.
BBC Sport at Wembley
Paul Hunter roared back to win an epic final as he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9 to win his third title in four years.
O'Sullivan looked to be cruising to victory as he took a 6-2 first session lead then made it 7-2 at the start of the evening session.
But Hunter refused to buckle and took his tally of centuries in the match to five before hauling himself level.
O'Sullivan led again at 9-8 but Hunter fought back once more to level and then clinched a nail-biting decider.
Hunter once again proved he is the Houdini of The Masters after his superb comeback.
Hunter won the title in 2001 with a 10-9 victory over Fergal O'Brien after trailing 7-3 at one stage.
In the following year he was trailing Mark Williams 5-0 before retaining the title with another 10-9 triumph.
"I knew I had it in me to come back because I have done it before and I felt I could do it again.
"When I was 6-1 down, I was still enjoying myself.
"Ronnie punished me in the afternoon session but I was pleased with the way I came back and made some good breaks.
"For me to be able to compete in a final against Ronnie at Wembley is a dream come true and I just concentrated on my game when I got to the table."
O'Sullivan was philosophical after his defeat.
"I was a little disappointed, but it is only a game of snooker. Someone has to win and someone has to lose and this time it was my turn to lose," he said.
"Paul is a tough competitor and he came back at me with some great breaks. He thoroughly deserved to win and I am happy for him and his family."
Video:-
Masters champion Paul Hunter
"I played really well even when I was 6-2 down"
news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/39837000/rm/_39837157_sport_hunter_vi.ram
Masters final: frame-by-frame
Frame-by-frame review of Paul Hunter's stunning 10-9 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the Masters final.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunter 10-9 O'Sullivan
Hunter completes a quite amazing comeback to pip O'Sullivan by the narrowest of margins after a protracted safety battle.
It is Hunter's third Masters title, all won by a score of 10-9.
Hunter 9-9 O'Sullivan
After an enthralling safety battle, the longest frame of the match goes the way of Hunter as his astonishing comeback continues. One loose safety shot from O'Sullivan allows hunter into the balls and he clears up brilliantly.
Hunter 8-9 O'Sullivan
Hunter refuses to accept defeat and takes another frame with another century. The standard of play is reaching new levels as a nerveless Hunter pushes O'Sullivan all the way.
Hunter 7-9 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan finally regains something approaching his best form as he moves to within one frame of the title. A missed rd to the middle proves costly for Hunter who can afford no more slip ups.
Hunter 7-8 O'Sullivan
Another century break from Hunter sees the gap narrow to a single frame again. The 25-year-old has dragged himself back into the running and is starting to look like he cannot miss when he gets in amongst the balls.
Hunter 6-8 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan gains a little bit of breathing space as in another scrappy and error strewn frame he edges the frame with two modest breaks.
Hunter 6-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter puts himself right back into contention with yet another frame. He pulls off several fabulous long pots to keep breaks going. The balls are starting to run his way now and another Hunter Masters comeback is very much on the cards.
Hunter 5-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter wins his third frame in a row and is looking full of confidence. O'Sullivan has slipped slightly from the incredibly high standards of his afternoon session.
Hunter 4-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter is showing signs of a fightback as he starts to gain some momentum of his own. A lovely break of 102 - his third century of the match - takes him back to within three frames of O'Sullivan.
Hunter 3-7 O'Sullivan
Hunter stops the rot with a morale-boosting frame. O'Sullivan does not punish a couple of Hunter errors in a scrappy period of play, but Hunter still has an enormous task on his hands.
Hunter 2-7 O'Sullivan
In the first frame of the evening session, Hunter wastes the chance to launch his response to O'Sullivan's afternoon assault, as some careless position play stops a promising break in its tracks. O'Sullivan does not quite hit the heights, but does enough to win the frame.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hunter 2-6 O'Sullivan
Hunter shows great character to win the final frame of the afternoon session with a flawless break of 126 to give himself hope of an evening comeback.
Hunter 1-6 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan is looking unstoppable as he takes yet another frame with some fantastic break building. Hunter seems shell-shocked as O'Sullivan pops in a 45 then turns the screw further with a break of 79 to stretch his lead.
Hunter 1-5 O'Sullivan
Hunter pays the price for a double kiss on a missed red and O'Sullivan makes him pay dearly as he knocks in another 80+ break. O'Sullivan's awesome form is in danger of turning the match into a non-contest.
Hunter 1-4 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan shows no signs of taking his foot off the pedal after the mid-session interval. An 87 break is enough to clinch the frame and leave Hunter with plenty of work to do.
Hunter 1-3 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan regains a two-frame advantage after a high quality break of 86. The standard of play from both players is extremely high with the slightest mistake punished in unforgiving fashion.
Hunter 1-2 O'Sullivan
Hunter responds in style and a great opening red gives him the chance to clear up the table with a brilliant break of 117 to get himself on the scoresheet.
Hunter 0-2 O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan carries on from where he left off and a fluent 80 break gives him the second frame with Hunter still trying to settle down.
Hunter 0-1 O'Sullivan
Both players make a tentative start before O'Sullivan pounces on an overly aggressive Hunter safety shot to make a break of 56 - enough to give him the opening frame.
++++++
Wot a match! Ronnie couldn't shake him off, Hunter was just too strong = CLASS performance.