As it happened, the UK Championship 2023 Final saw A player crush glory with an inspired victory over Ding Junhui.

As it happened, the UK Championship 2023 Final saw, A player crush glory with an inspired victory over Ding Junhui.

Despite turning 48 on Tuesday, Ronnie O’Sullivan is still going strong and has solidified his place in snooker history with an eighth UK Championship championship; The seventh-time global champion is now the youngest and oldest victor of the competition.

After defeating Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final to win a record-tying eighth UK Championship title, Ronnie O’Sullivan has no intention of quitting snooker anytime soon.

Thirty years ago, O’Sullivan lifted the UK Championship for the first time, making him the youngest ranking champion ever. He is currently the oldest winner of the competition.

Tuesday marks The Rocket’s 48th birthday. His achievements coincide with the documentary’s debut, which was released just over a week ago and details his difficulties managing pressure throughout his career, notably when he won a seventh world title at the 2022 World Championship.

He withdrew from the Champion of Champions in early November in order to take a mental health leave, despite having won the invitation-only Shanghai Masters earlier in the season.

His victory at the UK Championship marked his 40th ranking championship since his career started in 1992.

I’m always beating myself up because of the age thing. I keep thinking I have to stop winning at some point but I’ll keep going until the wheels fall off,” said O’Sullivan.

Hauled back from 4-1 and 7-5 leads by Ding, who like O’Sullivan won his first UK title as a teenager in 2005, the world No 1 dug deep when it mattered and consecutive breaks of 100 and 74 set him up for his final flourish.

The Chinese player put forth a commendable effort considering that he had seriously considered pulling out of the competition before climbing out of bed on the first day to defeat the reigning champion, Mark Allen.

But in the end, O’Sullivan, who had hardly needed to regain peak form during the tournament, had enough to win the last three frames 10-7, leaving Ding to consider losing the championship match for the second time in a row.

At the Barbican in York, O’Sullivan’s match-winning, exhibition-style finish of 129 was met with predictably wild scenes, but the world No. 1 looked very unimpressed when questioned about his most recent historic accomplishment.

After playing professional snooker at The Masters, O’Sullivan commented, “I get more of a buzz from going for a run in the morning and having breakfast with my mate.”

“I’m not sitting here beaming broadly and feeling ecstatic. Many times, I’m just going through the motions.

“It feels fantastic to win, and I always give it my all when I compete, but the thrill I felt years ago when I won my first World, UK, and Masters championships and everyone was ecstatic has faded.

It’s still a good feeling and a job well done, don’t get me wrong, but I get a greater pleasure from going for a morning run or having breakfast with a friend.

Actually, I have no desire to play at all. Even in this match today, I was thinking, “I’d rather sit on my bed and watch a little Netflix.” But once you’re down there, you think you’re glad you did it. Most of the time, I feel just that.