Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed his first World Championship snooker title after beating Scotland's John Higgins 18-14 in the final of the World Championship in Sheffield tonight.
Higgins staged a brave rally in the evening session but he never got closer than three frames to the 'Rocket' after losing the first session 6-2.
For too long O'Sullivan has had to carry the unwanted tag of being arguably the most naturally talented player, along with Jimmy White, never to win the game's ultimate accolade.
This season, during his low periods, he has hinted about quitting the game or cutting down on the number of tournaments.
But in between his many mood swings O'Sullivan has managed to keep his game together on a more consistent basis than ever before with the result he had won four tournaments this season ahead of the world championships.
Even the durable Higgins was powerless to stop the tide for long periods as O'Sullivan's mixture of brilliant potting and positional play plus immaculate safety play often made him look invincible.
A measure of his quality in the final was that he rattled in two centuries and 11 other fifty-plus breaks.
A 50 break helped Higgins to the first frame of the evening but O'Sullivan moved back on course by taking the next two, the second with a run of 78 after his opponent had played a poor safety shot when 43-0 ahead.
That made it 16-11 but Higgins has that never say die spirit and a 62 break in frame 28 and another of 87 in the next kept O'Sullivan waiting.
He moved to within one frame of glory with a 68 but then O'Sullivan missed what was effectively championship ball in frame 31 when he missed a red into the middle bag when 69-6 ahead.
Higgins again stepped in with a superb 65 clearance to win 71-69 but it was only a temporary reprieve.
He broke down on a run of 45 and it was his last visit to the table as an 80 clearance to the pink by O'Sullivan sent the crowd wild and gave Ronnie the title.