Ronnie O'Sullivan secures record seventh UK Championship
Englishman beats Mark Allen 10-6 in the final
Rocket wins 19th Triple Crown title, beating Hendry's record
O'Sullivan won six frames in a row to lead 7-2
He won first UK title in 1993
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two
On Ronnie O'Sullivan's form getting better this season despite him taking part in less events...
He's turning up when he feels like it. It's like a smash and grab. It's incredible snooker and shows that he's starting to get that fear factor over a lot of the field.
Image source, PAO’Sullivan 3-2 Allen: 6th frame: 0-0
O'Sullivan's long potting has been so good that, when he misses one that seemingly travels the length of the arena, there are gasps of surprise from the audience. No punishment from Allen, though.
O’Sullivan 3-2 Allen
Ominous for Mark Allen. A break of 54 for Ronnie O'Sullivan, then a clearance. The GOAT is ahead for the first time in this final. Little wonder that Allen has put his cue on the table and taken himself off for a moment.
'A magnificent clearance' - O'Sullivan takes 3-2 lead
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame: 63-15
You can't keep a champion down, even if he has just been kicked by a horse. Long red from Ronnie, diagonally sending the cue ball to sink a red near the bottom right corner. A break-winner.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame: 54-15
A kick on the black. Ronnie shakes his head like a disappointed parent. Break over. He kicks at the ground after rolling the cue ball into a bunch of five reds. Allen has a chance that he can't have expected.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame: 39-15
You could close your eyes and know what is happening in a game of snooker. You know when the balls are being disturbed, crowd noises tell you of success or failure, the referee tells you the score. Is there any better sport for some late-night relaxation, possibly after a beverage, when you are feeling at ease with the world? They should play on Christmas day.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame: 25-15
O'Sullivan is at it again. Reds almost hand-placed. Black where it should be. Up and down into position. Sweet familiar clink of ball on ball, followed by the satisfying clunk of pocket being filled.
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame 0-0
If you look hard, you can spot, at the back of the arena, patrons standing and leaning on a balcony. That looks a good vantage point. Pop to the bar, come back, watch a bit, bar, loo, watch, bar, bar...
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame 0-0
Take two...
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame 7-1
Some early huffing and puffing, but no decisive move. A long red sunk by Allen, but nothing on a colour afterwards. A missed long one from Ronnie.
Hello, what's being decided here? Re-rack...
O’Sullivan 2-2 Allen: 5th frame 0-0
Seats being taken, players applauded back to the arena. Ronnie O'Sullivan gets us going once more. Left-handed, obvs.
Image source, PAThat Masters draw in full....
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two
There are people that go out there saying that snooker isn't a sport, but then the Olympics isn't necessarily showing things that are all athletic. If archery is in the Olympics, than snooker should be in.
The Olympic movement has a responsibility to reflect what people are watching worldwide.
Ding Junhui will take on Jack Lisowski, defending champ Mark Allen to start against Luca Brecel.
Finally, Judd Trump to play Kyren Wilson.
Image source, BBC SportMark Selby v Stephen Maguire. Pretty much every tie is being ooohed and aaahed in the arena. Barry Hawkins v Shaun Murphy, John Higgins to take on Ryan Day.
The draw for the 2019 Masters is currently being made.
Mark Williams v Neil Robertson is first out of the red bag. Ronnie O'Sullivan is to meet Stuart Bingham.
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion on BBC Two
Snooker in the Olympics would be amazing. You just look at the skill factor. The amount of practice that the players need to get to this level - it stands with any other sport.
#bbcsnooker
Ian Emery: Sensational snooker in the UK Final so far. That last frame from Ronnie.... incredible.
Bryn Shurgold: What an opening 4 frames from Ronnie and Allen! What an opening session!
Jodie Rasburn: Now we have got one serious battle, on the fence with this one
Steve Davis
Six-time world champion on BBC Two
Image source, Getty ImagesRonnie loves a challenge. He always raises his game because of the respect he's got for his opponent and trying to beat them. But I also think he loves the challenge of a difficult table where the reds aren't in a normal position. When there's difficulty in position of shots it seems to make him more alert.
Whilst we're in the interval, BBC Two is looking at the possibility of snooker and other cue sports being included in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Last week, former world champion Shaun Murphy traveled to France to help launch the bid.
Mark Allen isn't sure, though. He says that he "isn't much of an athlete".