Hunter - retained title(Allsport).

HUNTER RETAINS MASTERS TITLE

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Paul Hunter became only the third player in the 28-year history of the Benson and Hedges Masters to retain his title - thanks to a little help again from fiancee Lyndsey Fell.

Glamour boy Hunter followed in the footsteps of Cliff Thorburn (1986) and Stephen Hendry (1993) by defending the trophy after a gripping 10-9 success over Mark Williams.

His reward for five-and-a-half hours of hard labour was a record £190,000 first prize while Williams, a 10-9 Wembley winner over Hendry in 1998, pocketed £95,000.

Hunter, now unbeaten in 2002 after collecting the Welsh Open title two weeks ago, can now emulate Hendry as the only player to complete a hat-trick of wins in the final Masters next year.

And he will hope to have Lyndsey with him in case of emergencies.

She was part of his by now famous 'Plan B' 12 months ago when he recovered from 6-2 and 7-3 down to defeat Fergal O'Brien in a deciding 19th frame.

And the same plan was involved again last night as the 23-year-old Yorkshireman fought back from a 5-3 interval deficit after earlier being 5-0 adrift.

"I did exactly the same as last year," grinned Leeds-based Hunter whose winning formula involved spending a few hours alone with blonde Lyndsey in his hotel bedroom between sessions.

"You can draw your own conclusions what happened. It seems to work though - maybe this year it should be called Plan C," added the history-making Yorkshireman.

Hunter's great start to the year has sent him to the top of the season's money list with £324,000.

And he is already one of the favourites for the world championship at Sheffield in April.

"I am confident for Sheffield but it is a long 17 days and it's going to be tough if I want to win it," explained the world number nine.

"But I've got it in me to win it maybe not this year but I'm sure I will do one day.

"I've had some long matches here but my dad reckons I'm not fit enough and that I should go down to the gym."

Hunter has shown he has plenty of stamina in the last few weeks. He reached the final by beating Alan McManus 6-5 and then stayed the distance to deny Williams his first title since October 2000.

He continued: "People said I had the easier half of the draw but they are all tough matches here.

"I hadn't beaten Mark before this game but there's no better place to do that than in the final.

"When I won my first major title in 1998 I thought I had made it. But I've got belief in myself now that I can compete with the best and also to beat them."

Williams had won their six previous meetings and when he led 5-0 victory number seven looked to be on the cards.

However, by frame 10 Hunter was back on level terms, although he had to wait until frame 15 to take the lead for the first time.

The match then ebbed and flowed right through to the deciding frame, when a brave pot on a red with the rest instigated a match-winning break of 65.

"It was a superb break," agreed Williams who admitted to "throwing the final away".

"I hope I can put a defeat like this out of my mind otherwise it could set me back for the rest of the season.

"It's not a nice feeling to lose like this but we've all been through it. And I'm sure it will happen again.

"However the more finals I lose the less confidence I will have going into them."

John Higgins has already won three titles in a row this season and Hunter will now try and complete his own hat-trick at the China Open in Shanghai.

But he won't have the back-up of calling upon Lyndsey if things aren't going to Plan B or C.