O'Sullivan cruises to sixth snooker Masters triumph

Ronnie O'Sullivan overwhelmed Barry Hawkins 10-1 to win the Masters at London's Alexandra Palace on Sunday, equalling fellow snooker great Stephen Hendry's record of six triumphs at the tournament. Five-times world champion O'Sullivan, 40, was rarely tested by Hawkins who, after winning Sunday's first frame, did not help his cause with a series of self-inflicted errors. O'Sullivan, who had not played in a frontline tournament since last year's World Championship nine months ago, had complained of back problems earlier in this event. But he did not look to be suffering much discomfort against compatriot Hawkins, the man he beat in the 2013 World Championship final. "I am over the moon, I knew I needed to raise my level," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "I was able to do that and I managed my emotions well. I am delighted to play as well I have done." O'Sullivan also thanked his sports psychiatrist. "Dr Steve Peters mentioned a couple of things and I just had to focus on each ball," he explained. "If Barry played like he did in the semis, it would have been a great match. "I am never normally surprised when I win tournaments but I am surprised I have won it after eight months out. It is about producing when it matters. "This is only a week, but to keep your focus for 17 days at the World Championship is a grind, we'll see how it goes." For Hawkins, who has now beaten O'Sullivan just once in 11 matches, getting to Sunday's final represented a considerable achievement given he had not won a match at the Masters prior to this week. "I wish he retired," Hawkins jokingly said of O'Sullivan. "I am disappointed with my performance I didn't give him a game. I was all over the place." However, he added: "If someone said I would have got to the final, I would have ripped their arm off. "It is hard to take positives, even though I played well most of the week."