Snooker: Ronnie claims Irish Masters (original) (raw)

Ronnie O'Sullivan captured his third title of the season by completing a 9-1 victory over Barry Hawkins in the final of the Kilkenny Irish Masters last night.

O'Sullivan, who won the Premier League in December and Wembley Masters a month later, compiled breaks of 52, 57, 60 and 122 to lead 7-1 after the first session as Hawkins struggled in his first final in 11 years as a professional.

A 138 total clearance made it 8-1 and O'Sullivan secured victory with a run of 80. He was presented with a trophy named after Paul Hunter, the three-times Masters champion who died of cancer last October, by Hunter's widow, Lindsey. O'Sullivan, won £13,500, plus £1,350 for a 147 break on Saturday.