Ronnie O’Sullivan admits he’s nonetheless uncertain whether or not his recreation is sweet sufficient to win an eighth World Championship title later this yr, regardless of registering a record-extending Masters victory.

O’Sullivan recovered from 6-3 right down to beat Ali Carter 10-7 and declare a record-extending eighth Masters title at Alexandra Palace, 29 years on from his maiden victory on the occasion, making him the oldest winner within the match’s historical past.

The 48-year-old took seven of his final eight frames to safe victory and the £250,000 high prize, a month on from profitable the UK Championship for an eighth time, with O’Sullivan now having the chance to win all three of snooker’s Triple Crown occasions in the identical season.

Steve Davis (1987/88), Stephen Hendry (1989/90 and 1995/96) and Mark Williams (2002/03) are the one three gamers to have beforehand received all Triple Crown occasions in the identical season, though O’Sullivan may have the chance to take action when he heads to Sheffield in April.

When requested about whether or not he might win an eighth World Championship, which begins on the Crucible on April 20, O’Sullivan mentioned: “I all the time have a good suggestion spherical about February, March whether or not my recreation’s in adequate form to win the Worlds.

“At the second, I’d most likely say it isn’t adequate to really feel assured of profitable. I can nonetheless win it, however I’d prefer to go there with a little bit of confidence with my recreation.

“Longer sessions you have to learn to cruise, just win most of your games in second gear, but at the moment I feel like I’m having to squeeze everything out just to get a result.”

O’Sullivan: “I don’t know how I won!”

Carter regarded on target for a primary Triple Crown title as he opened up a 5-3 lead after the primary session and instantly prolonged his benefit when play resumed.

O’Sullivan reeled off three frames in a row to get again on stage phrases earlier than Carter made his ninth century of the match within the thirteenth body, breaking the file set by O’Sullivan in 2007 and 2009.

However, Carter scored simply 51 factors within the final 4 frames as O’Sullivan ruthlessly punished any mistake to win back-to-back Triple Crown occasions for the primary time in his profession.

“I don’t know how I’ve won this tournament, to be honest with you,” O’Sullivan admitted. “I’ve just dug deep.

“I’ve tried to play with a little bit of freedom after which tonight I simply thought, ‘attempt to hold Ali [Carter] trustworthy and if he will win it, he will need to scrape me off the desk’.

“I just wanted to see if he had it at the end. Ali didn’t play great tonight, he played better this afternoon, but tonight he let me off the hook a few times.

“He was aggressive at present however tonight he did not tackle a few of the balls I assumed he may need and gave me just a little little bit of respiration area.”

Carter said: “Obviously I’m gutted I misplaced, it is all about profitable on the finish of the day, however earlier than I rocked up right here final week I’d have taken the ultimate so there’s a variety of good issues to return for me.

“I’m heading in the right direction. Ronnie played very well there in the end. I tried my best and it just wasn’t good enough today.”