O'Sullivan is the master

Snooker/The Masters: Ronnie O'Sullivan captured his third title of the season last night as John Higgins suffered a bad case of Wembley deja vu.

The world champion and world number one added the Rileys Club Masters to his Grand Prix and Welsh Open crowns courtesy of a brilliant 10-3 success.

Ten years earlier the pair, then teenagers, met in their first Masters final with O'Sullivan coming out on top 9-3. Not since Steve Davis whitewashed Mike Hallett 9-0 in 1988 has there been such a runaway London final.

O'Sullivan's victory was worth £125,000 while Higgins picked up £60,000 by way of consolation.

Ding Junhui's magnificent 141 clearance against Dubliner Ken Doherty in the second round last Tuesday earned him the £10,000 high break prize.

O'Sullivan's win included three centuries (107, 102 and 134) plus further runs of 95, 58, 97, 79, 75, 79.

Higgins, who only potted one ball in the last three frames, hung his white towel over his cue in surrender as O'Sullivan completed his third ton to bring the tournament to an end.

THE MASTERS - Final: Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) bt John Higgins (Sco) 10-3 (Frame scores, O'Sullivan first: 97-9, 0-130, 7-61, 107(107 break)-0, 89-24, 102-1, 135 (102 break)-1, 45-73, 79-1, 75-56, 79-0, 88-1, 134(134)-0). Semi-finals: Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) bt Jimmy White (Brown) (Eng) 6-1 (Frame scores, O'Sullivan first: 92-4, 76-0, 103-17, 0-75, 94-30, 122(106)-6, 77-27); John Higgins (Sco) bt Peter Ebdon (Eng) 6-3 (Frame scores, Higgins first: 67-1, 69-13, 62-64, 77-18, 5-118, 76-36, 70-4, 15-79, 66-7).