Paul Hunter became only the third player in the 28-year history of the Benson & Hedges Masters to retain his title with a thrilling 9-8 victory over Mark Williams. Hunter follows in the footsteps of Cliff Thorburn and Stephen Hendry by successfully defending his trophy and will now attempt to emulate Hendry as the only player to complete a hat-trick of wins in the final Masters next year.
Yet again, it seems the secret to his success was fiancée Lyndsey Fell. Twelve months ago Hunter recovered from 6-2 and 7-3 down to defeat Fergal O'Brien in a deciding 19th frame and claimed afterwards it was the time he spent alone with Lyndsey at his hotel bedroom between sessions that inspired him to victory. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman decided not to change a winning formula. "I did exactly the same as last year," grinned Leeds-based Hunter. "You can draw your own conclusions what happened. It seems to work though," he said.
Williams, who had won their six previous meetings, took the lead in the opening session of yesterday's final and opened up a 5-0 lead. However, by the tenth frame Hunter had managed to draw level and then took the lead for the first time in frame 15. From then on, the tie leaned one way and then another right through to the deciding frame where Hunter produced a match-winning break of 65 with a brave pot on a red with the rest.
Hunter is now unbeaten in 2002 after winning the Welsh Open title two weeks ago and tops the money list with £324,000 after picking up a record £190,000 first prize last night. He is also 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," he said. "But I've got it in me to win it maybe not this year but I'm sure I will do one day."
However, there is no doubt that Hunter will be the man to beat after his superb start to the season and he now has the self-belief he needs to become a true champion. "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," he added.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
