FOURTH WORLD CROWN FOR RONNIE

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Ronnie O'Sullivan intends to play on after landing his fourth Betfred.com World Championship title - but he warned snooker chiefs they would have to treat him better in future.

The 36-year-old from Chigwell demolished Ali Carter's Crucible hopes with an 18-11 victory in the final. He was joined on the arena floor immediately after his triumph by his four-year-old son, also named Ronnie, and the pair savoured the triumph that O'Sullivan feared would never come in his darkest days.

But with Dr Steve Peters, a sports psychiatrist, having worked wonders over the past year in improving his star patient's mental state, the future could still be bright. O'Sullivan will take a short break from the sport, but the plans to retire that he mooted on Saturday came to nothing.

He said: "I'm not saying I have retired.

"I'm saying family is the most important thing in my life.

"I work as hard as anyone in snooker and I just want to be treated fairly.

"That's up to the governing body to treat players right."

O'Sullivan repeated his claim that World Snooker are "blackmailing" players into appearing at the low-profile Players Tour Championship events, and he added: "I'm not going to hang around two years to wait for things to be fair.

"I'm having four, five, six months off and I'll assess the situation."

O'Sullivan's son, from a previous relationship, was picked up in his father's arms as the celebrations began.

"It's the best feeling," O'Sullivan said.

"I didn't think I'd have the opportunity. But it's so nice to have him here.

"He loves snooker. I'm trying to turn him but he's having none of it.

"It was great to have him here watching, I got emotional even before the match was over because it felt like just me and him in this whole arena.

"It didn't feel like there were people watching.

"I just felt this massive buzz and connection between me and him.

"It was the best feeling I've had in my entire life.

"To have close ones with me when I'm world champion is very special."

O'Sullivan paid fresh tribute to Dr Peters, the man who helped steer many of Britain's cyclists to Olympic glory in Beijing four years ago.

"If I was Manchester City I'd go and buy him," he said.

"Steve helped me understand my brain is a machine.

"Deep down I'd love to play snooker, but I just got too involved. Wrapped up in it. It's not when I'm playing, it's when I go home, I'm a nightmare to be around.

"I'm shut off from the world because I'm too wrapped up in trying to be perfect. It just made me realise you can't be perfect but as long as you give it your best that's all you can do.

"I've learnt a lot over the last 12 months.

"I'm not a better player. I've just given myself more of a chance."

The Chigwell cueman becomes the oldest champion since Ray Reardon, who at 45 landed his sixth title in 1978, and if it were any other player such a success might be considered one which could spur a late career flourish.

The concluding session saw Stephen Hendry, the man who retired on the tournament's middle Sunday, take the final bow of his 17 days in Sheffield before the finalists made their entrances.

There was a warm welcome for Carter, whose surprising venture to the final has taken in a stunning comeback over last year's shock merchant Judd Trump, a helping hand from Peter Ebdon, and gallons of carrot juice.

Carter believes the juice has helped him to stave off the effects of Crohn's disease which at the turn of the year had become so destabilising that he too considered quitting snooker.

Ebdon has had an impact on his game too, no doubt with tactical advice that helped him past Trump and Stephen Maguire, but in the final he was found lacking the attacking threat to trouble O'Sullivan.

When O'Sullivan made his entrance it was to a raucous reception, and the crowd's long-time favourite delivered the triumph so many of them craved.

The 32-year-old from Tiptree was only very briefly even on level terms though, O'Sullivan pulling away from 3-3 to take a lead he would never look like relinquishing.

O'Sullivan made three centuries in the match, including the 141 he registered on Sunday that enters the record books as the highest break in a World Championship final, and the dash to 101 in the opening session which was sparked by a silky smooth long red.

On Monday night, 15-10 ahead entering the final session, he began in the manner of a champion with a 70 break that meant Carter required eight of nine frames to achieve his title goal.

And it was soon all over, O'Sullivan polishing off his triumph with a sharp 61 break.

Carter said: "I'm just disappointed to lose. I didn't feel I played well in the final.

"Ronnie put me under all sorts of pressure. His safety game was unbelievable. I was just under it from the start."

Carter, 32, also believed fortune frowned on him at key stages in the contest. It was his second World Championship final, and his second loss to O'Sullivan after an 18-8 drubbing four years ago.

"I didn't get any form when I needed it," Carter said. "But the better man won. He's a genius. It's the Ronnie O'Sullivan show, isn't it.

"I'm pleased for the game that he's carrying on playing. He's got so much more to give."