Snooker: Beer and cheer for delighted Davis

Steve Davis, whose tournament tipples are usually tea and milk, partied into the early hours yesterday after winning the Benson and Hedges Masters title for the third time with an extraordinary 10-8 victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan at Wembley Conference Centre.

"I am going to drink a lot of beer. There's no way I'll be driving home after this," Davis said, after an amazing recovery which saw him overturn an 8-4 O'Sullivan advantage.

The six-times world and UK champion won pounds 135,000 - the largest single cheque of his 19-year professional career - and got his hands on a piece of silverware for the first time since capturing the Welsh Open in January 1995.

In addition, a 130 clearance, which was the highlight of a six-frame finishing burst, secured the event's pounds 15,000 highest-break bonus. The two combined to carry Davis's total career earnings over pounds 4.5m.

"This has got to go down as one of my best-ever performances," 39-year- old Davis said. His unequalled career total of titles now stands at 71.

Davis cited a summer fitness regime, new practice partners and an easier, freer "cue action" as possible factors behind his return to the limelight.

BENSON AND HEDGES MASTERS (Wembley Conference Centre) Final: S Davis (Eng) bt R O'Sullivan (Eng) 10-8. Frame scores (Davis first): 0-116, 0- 113, 72-13, 38-67, 78-50, 0-123, 62-46, 63-1, 32-96, 52-72, 7-122, 4-75, 109-0, 60-27, 130-1, 63-48, 74-46, 68-1.