Snooker: O'Brien Hunted down in Masters thriller
Fergal O'Brien was pipped 10-9 by Paul Hunter early this morning in one of the most dramatic snooker finals since Dennis Taylor's famous black ball win over Steve Davis in 1985.
Hunter staged a dramatic comeback to win the B&H Masters title at Wembley, with the final pink being sunk just after 12:30am.
The Leeds-based player overturned the Dubliner despite trailing 5-1, 6-2 and 7-3.
Hunter won five on the trot to edge an 8-7 lead, and with O'Brien claiming two of the next three frames, the 2,500 capacity Wembley Conference Centre crowd stayed transfixed as the match rolled into a decisive frame.
Hunter opened up a commanding 59-34 lead, but the missing of a long green left O'Brien at the table with 27 on the table.
It took the Irishman 12 minutes to pot the yellow, following a series of complex snookers.
Two Hunter fouls seemed to turn the tie, but when O'Brien missed a free ball, setting up the green, the Yorkshireman was presented the title on a silver platter, clearing up to the pink, securing the frame on a 77-44 scoreline - and the Stg£175,000 top prize.
By way of consolation, O'Brien pocketed Stg£88,000 - almost IR£120,000.
