Shaun Murphy became the 10th man to win the Triple Crown after thrashing Neil Robertson 10-2 at Alexandra Palace to win the Masters.
Robertson, the world No1, had lit up Alexandra Palace in 6-1 wins over Ali Carter and Ronnie O'Sullivan but found himself 5-0 down in the final.
Murphy had two 127 breaks and four more breaks over 60 as he added this title to his World Championship from 2005 and UK Championship of 2008.
Murphy told BBC Sport: “The first time I came to this great event I would have been 11 or 12 and to finally get the win and the crown is unbelievable. When I won the World Championship 10 years ago I thought I was going to blitz through these events but I’ve had to wait a long time and go through some ups and downs.”
Murphy also won a number of scrappy frames as he avenged his 10-6 defeat by Robertson in the 2012 final, notably in the first of the evening session when the Australian was first in with 51.
Murphy said: “I remember a few years ago he nicked a few of those tight frames and they really hurt. I had a bit of luck throughout the match but in all I’ve played well this week.”
Murphy took the opening frame with a 64 and the second after Robertson had battled on for snookers on the colours.
The first of his centuries made it 3-0 and, though he missed a long opening red in the next, Robertson’s own long potting continued to let him down as he missed a brown. Murphy, following a lovely shot to free the black, took his chance with 76 to sweep the pre-interval frames.
An 80 in frame six finally got Robertson on the board but Murphy knocked in a good starter in the next and converted it into a frame-winning 69 – along the way potting two reds in one shot. Robertson won the final frame of the session.
It came down to a safety battle on the green but after Robertson fluked a snooker, Murphy got one back and cleared to the blue. He then tucked the pink behind the black and, when Robertson pushed it over a pocket, Murphy finished.
The next was in no such doubt, Murphy amassing a second masterful 127, and he extended his lead to 9-2 before finishing the job with a 60 break.
Robertson said: “The first session was very tough, being 6-2 down. It was probably a couple of shots that made the difference between being 4-4 and being 6-2 down.
“Shaun played very well today, he played fantastically all week. He was brilliant in all departments and I’d just like to say, ‘Welcome to the Triple Crown club.’”
Murphy joins Robertson, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Terry Griffiths, Alex and John Higgins, Mark Williams and Mark Selby in having won the World, UK and Masters titles.
