Mark Allen secured a second Champion of Champions title with a dominant 10-3 victory over Judd Trump on Sunday in Bolton.
After the opening two frames were shared with breaks of 59 from Allen and a superb 123 by Trump, the former began to build his advantage.
The Pistol won several close frames to lead 4-1 and then fired in a terrific 137 break to extend his cushion even further.
When the scoreline became 7-1, it was a case of damage limitation for Trump, who had been the pre-tournament and pre-final favourite.
The Englishman won the last frame of the first session and the opening frame of the evening session to briefly reduce the gap.
However, any hopes of a comeback were immediately dashed when Allen won the 11th frame.
The world number four duly dominated the remaining couple of frames to complete the rout.
Victory for Allen adds to his previous Champion of Champions title in 2020, and he collects a cool £150,000 cheque for his efforts.
The 37 year-old lost only eight frames during the tournament, an impressive feat considering the elite field of winners that had assembled in the draw.
“I was very steady all day. I didn’t miss too many balls,” Mark Allen said soon after.
“I kept Judd under pressure pretty much all day. I made a few good clearances early in the match that were possibly an early turning point.”
“Then from 7-1, all the doubts start coming in – thinking all you can do from here is lose.
“But I managed to close it out really well, I played really well in the last three frames.
“Judd didn’t have that mad run at me in the second session that I was sort of expecting.
“He potted a few good long ones in the first frame and made a good break, and you’re sort of fearing the worst.
“I think he missed one with the rest and left me an easy chance at 7-3, and that was the one.
“I managed to take it to go to 8-3, and I was settled down then. Just do nothing silly and you should win.
“I played pretty steady all week after a nervy start against Jimmy (White) in round one.
“These are big events, they’re important events. I was edgy against Jimmy, let’s be honest. But from 1-1, I played pretty well.
“I never really looked back. I played some really good stuff against (Ali) Carter, I played well against John (Higgins) even though he made a few mistakes, which is not like him.
“Then I played well again all day today and put Judd under pressure, so I’m very happy.
“It’s why we play the game – you want to play in the biggest events in front of the packed crowds.”
Allen will head to next week’s UK Championship full of confidence and with aspirations of successfully defending the crown he won last year in York.
The Antrim man has odds of 12/1 to emerge with the title at the Barbican Centre for a second successive season.
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2023 Champion of Champions
Monday (Group 4)
Last 16 (bo7)
Mark Allen 4-1 Jimmy White
Mark Selby 3-4 Ali Carter
Quarter-Final (bo11)
Mark Allen 6-2 Ali Carter
Tuesday (Group 2)
Last 16 (bo7)
Luca Brecel 0-4 Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams 2-4 Robert Milkins
Quarter-Final (bo11)
Barry Hawkins 6-2 Robert Milkins
Wednesday (Group 1)
Last 16 (bo7)
John Higgins 4-0 Chris Wakelin
Ding Junhui 4-3 Zhang Anda
Quarter-Final (bo11)
John Higgins 6-1 Ding Junhui
Thursday (Group 3)
Last 16 (bo7)
Judd Trump 4-0 Baipat Siripaporn
Shaun Murphy 4-1 Gary Wilson
Quarter-Final (bo11)
Judd Trump 6-4 Shaun Murphy
Friday
Semi-Final (bo11)
Barry Hawkins 3-6 Judd Trump
Saturday
Semi-Final (bo11)
John Higgins 2-6 Mark Allen
Sunday
Final (bo19)
Judd Trump 3-10 Mark Allen
Featured photo credit: Taka G Wu/Matchroom Multi Sport
An 18th career title for Allen. A one-sided final that was in keeping with a week that lacked the tension of close matches. Trump v Murphy the best match I saw. Crowds were excellent over the last four days, became really engaged. Just a pity we didn’t get a more compelling semi-finals and final.
16 centuries made in the whole event.
The famous jerseys pretty much reflected the tournament for me: passable but now that I’ve seen them “worn in anger” they didn’t do anything much and made the players look like mainly overweight non-sports stars on TV coverage.
As I sometimes have to defend snooker as a sport, on the basis of it being low intensity physical competition and skill, rather than “just a game” the jerseys weren’t much help in that regard.
Also made the players look like a cross between pool players and Ten pin bowlers. It definitely detracted from the brand distinctiveness.