Ronnie O'Sullivan has broken yet another record after winning the first-ever staging of the Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker this week.
Not only did the Rocket dispose of Judd Trump in Saudi Arabia but he also rubbed salt in the world No 2's wounds by taking his record for the most prize money ever won in a season.
O'Sullivan only lost three frames in his three matches as he almost cruised to victory at the money-spinning tournament in Boulevard City.
He beat John Higgins 4-0 in the quarter-final on Tuesday before overcoming Trump 4-1 in the semi-final the following afternoon.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has broken another snooker record after winning the Riyadh Season World Masters
Eurosport
Reigning world champion Luca Brecel was his opponent in the final but the Belgian was no match for O'Sullivan, who raced to a 5-2 win after the game was level at 2-2 at the interval.
O'Sullivan was unable to hit a historic 167 which would have landed him a huge bonus of £395,000 if he potted the golden ball.
But he still walked away with a cool £250,000 as he picked up his fifth tournament win of the year.
O'Sullivan has now won £1,141,500 this season, beating Trump's record of £1,093,900 in a single campaign.
Trump won £1,093,900 in the 2018/19 season, which ended with him winning his only World Championship to date.
O'Sullivan has amazingly smashed the record despite having at least three more tournaments to play.
He has won five events this season, including the first two Triple Crown tournaments, and will head to China for the World Open later this month, before the Tour Championship in Manchester in early April.
O'Sullivan will then go the the Crucible aiming to win a record-breaking eighth World Championship.
He has now won his last six meetings against Trump, not tasting defeat against him since November 2020.
O'Sullivan was not impressed with his performance in this week's semi-final and said he dragged Trump down to his level.
He said: "It was a win, it wasn't great. Judd was probably the worst I've seen him play, I think I dragged him down to my level.
"That's what I seem to be doing most of this season."
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has now collected the most prize money in a single snooker season
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O'Sullivan loved the tournament in Saudi Arabia and believes the Saudis' involvement will only spell good news for snooker.
He said: "These are the tournaments you really want to play in.
"One table, great crowd, great atmosphere, the music was going in-between the frames. It was like we were in some sort of rave. It was like going 25 years back when I was young.
"But I think the whole crowd have enjoyed it, it's made it a bit more lively. It just feels like a really nice festival.
Judd Trump previously held the record of winning the most prize money in a snooker season
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"You want to make the sport as big as you can make it but obviously coming to places like this, the Saudis are a powerhouse.
"If anyone can inject anything into snooker, it will be the people who have put on the tournament this week."
