Stephen Hendry played with a new cue to storm to victory in a record-breaking British Open final in Brighton last night.
Hendry, whose old cue was broken by airport baggage handlers two months ago, defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-6 to land the £52,000 first prize. At one point there were five successive centuries - a record for a major final.
Hendry played superbly to win six of the last seven frames and capture the 35th ranking title of his career.
The Scot, winner of the title in 1988, 1991 and 1999, set the ball rolling for a classic final in the fourth frame, clinching it with a 135 total clearance to make it 2-2.
O'Sullivan, the champion as an 18-year-old in 1994, then fired in runs of 106 and 100 to lead 4-2. Hendry hit back with a 121 before O'Sullivan secured his two-frame first-session advantage with a closing 109.
But Hendry engaged an even higher gear during the evening session, firing off breaks of 61, 50 and 135 to lead 6-5. And when O'Sullivan broke down on 56 in the next frame, Hendry pounced to clear with 78 and make it 7-5.
The Scot extended his lead to 8-5 by winning the next courtesy of a 95 break and although O'Sullivan stopped the rot by closing to 8-6, visits of 42 and 30 were sufficient to carry Hendry over the line.