O'Sullivan keeps £1million 'Ronnie Slam' dream alive as he becomes oldest Masters champ ever… but can't lift trophy

 RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has become the OLDEST champion of the Masters – 29 years after he became the YOUNGEST.

But his elbow was so sore that he couldn't even lift the trophy!

6

Ronnie O'Sullivan won his eighth Masters title with victory over Ali CarterCredit: Getty

6

O'Sullivan's elbow was too sore to lift the trophy... so his kids picked it up insteadCredit: Getty

Yet following his 10-7 victory over Ali Carter, the £1million Ronnie Slam is still on this season as he chases perfection in the snooker Triple Crowns.

Despite not being anywhere near his fluid best, while struggling with the effects of jetlag, the world No.1 killed the hopes of Carter’s big breakthrough at Ally Pally.

Stuart Bingham had been the oldest winner aged 43 in 2020 but that has been overtaken in the record books by the ageless O’Sullivan, who is 48 years and 40 days.

It is 23rd success across the three big tournaments in the sport and underlines his outstanding longevity given he won the first of eight Masters aged 19 in 1995.

READ MORE IN SNOOKER

MASTERS SNOOKER 

O'Sullivan completes stunning comeback to beat Ali Carter in epic final

BREAK IN PLAY 

Masters final between O'Sullivan and Carter STOPPED due to technical blunder

The Essex cueman can cash a cheque for £250,000 – the same figure he earned for the UK Championship in December – and there will be £500,000 on the line at the Crucible.

Yet O’Sullivan, who is wearing trainers due to painful feet, could not lift the heavy trophy as a result of a sore elbow... so his kids lifted the title instead.

Of the 50 Masters finals in history, O’Sullivan has been in 14 of them but while he might love this 16-player tournament, he does not exactly love the location.

In his mind, Ally Pally is one of his least favourite destinations on the World Snooker Tour circuit – a complete contrast to the luxurious surroundings he experiences in trips to China or Macau.