Snooker: O'Sullivan storms back to end barren run

Ronnie O'Sullivan brought the house down at the Tempodrom in
Berlin last night with a magnificent comeback win to beat Scot
Stephen Maguire in the final of the German Masters.

Achieved with a 9-7 victory after trailing 6-3, it was three-time world champion's first full ranking title in two and half years, since he won the Shanghai Masters event in 2009. Perhaps more importantly, it boosted the world No 16's chances of being at the world championships at the Crucible in April without having to suffer the indignity of a play-off.

O'Sullivan pocketed the £45,000 first prize and claimed the 23rd ranking title of his career aided by breaks of 111, 58, 75, 96, 54 and 67. He said: "I am coming to the end of my career, so every victory is sweet. If I can pick up a title here and there before I'm done, then that is great. How can you not try your best playing here in front of this crowd? This is now the best venue we play at, like the old Wembley Conference Centre used to be."