O'Sullivan - took classic encounter.

ROCKET PREVAILS IN CLASSIC

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Ronnie O'Sullivan won a classic European Open final to land his first world ranking title for 15 months in Torquay on Sunday night.

The 'Rocket' fired in three centuries and five half-century breaks as he beat defending champion Stephen Hendry 9-6 to claim the £44,000 top prize.

The average frame time for the pulsating encounter was just 10 minutes, with Hendry knocking in two tons and four breaks of at least 50 - making it one of the best finals of recent years.

O'Sullivan, whose last ranking triumph came at the UK Championship in December 2001, was delighted to get back into the groove with the Embassy World Championship just a month away.

"There could have been 10 centuries," said O'Sullivan.

"It's rare to get a match where both players are near to their best and attacking the game like that.

"It was very tough, and I'm pleased to win. But it is history now as far as I'm concerned, because the world championship is the big one.

"I'm just glad I'm feeling like this - and if I can win one of the two tournaments before the Crucible then I'll go there full of confidence."

O'Sullivan made a flying start by knocking in a magnificent 140 total clearance in the opening frame.

Hendry hit back by winning a scrappy second and added the third with a break of 101.

But O'Sullivan dropped only 16 points in the last four frames as breaks of 76, 52, 126 and 76 gave him his 5-2 lead.

Hendry reduced that to 5-3 with an 88 in the first of the evening. But when O'Sullivan completed a clearance of 142, worth £3,000 as the highest break of the tournament, it looked as if the world number one would coast to victory.

Instead Hendry, whose only victory against O'Sullivan in a ranking final came in the 1993 European Open in Antwerp, fired himself back into contention by rallying to 6-5 with breaks of 53 and 117.

O'Sullivan made 77 for 7-5, and Hendry's 72 restored the one-frame difference before a tight 14th which eventually fell to O'Sullivan when he drilled in the last red from distance and cleared up after the Scot had failed to double it on 50.

O'Sullivan then sealed the next with a run of 79 to claim the title and extend his career record against Hendry to 20-16.

"I'm disappointed to lose, but it was a very enjoyable match to play in," said Hendry, who pockets £22,000.

"It was about who got in first in each frame, and my break-off shots cost me the match because I left him a long pot every time.

"But I'm still pleased with the week because I wasn't playing well coming here - and I reached the final playing some good stuff."

O'Sullivan started the season by winning the Regal Masters, a non-ranking tournament, but failed to get beyond the quarter-finals of any of the campaign's first four ranking events.

His victory carries him over Hendry into second place on the provisional world ranking list, with Welshman Mark Williams still at the top.