Ronnie O’Sullivan became snooker’s first £10million man with a brilliant defence of his Shanghai Masters crown last night.

The Rocket pocketed the £200,000 first prize with a high-class 11-9 victory over world No.7 Barry Hawkins in China.

And that took five-time world champion O’Sullivan’s career prize money to over the eight-figure mark – a figure not reached even by Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis.

It was O’Sullivan’s first tournament of the season – and he showed the rest what they now have to deal with for the rest of the campaign.

The world No.3, now 42, shows every sign of improving with age and this third success in Shanghai sounded out an ominous warning to his rivals.

The Rocket has passed £10m in prize money (
Image:
Visual China Group)

Hawkins, 39, had been hoping for revenge for final defeats at the Crucible in 2013 and a 10-1 drubbing at the Masters two years ago.

But despite a battling and brave display Hawkins, who led 6-4 at one stage, came up just short.

O’Sullivan, who took his tally of century breaks to 953 with two more, gave the trophy away to a girl fan in the audience.

He said: “I have so many trophies at home – the first one is very special but now it is more about experiences. She can have it at home to remind her of this snooker match.

O'Sullivan got the better of Barry Hawkins (
Image:
Visual China Group)

“Barry was the in-form player this week but I played well tonight and am really pleased with the victory. I had beaten him in finals before, but he beat me at the World Championship recently.

“I wasn’t unhappy being only 6-4 down after the first session, that was a result for me really.”

Hawkins said: “I am bit disappointed to have lost another final to him after playing well in the first session. Ronnie played well tonight, and we all know what a fantastic player he is.

“It can be intimidating playing him in a big final but I didn’t feel that today. I just couldn’t keep my standard up until the end.”

Hawkins had led 6-4 after the first session – and it could have been worse at that stage for O’Sullivan.

No other player has passed the £10m mark in prize money (
Image:
Visual China Group)

The Hawk rattled in breaks of 125, 55 and 132 and that was good enough to lead against the Rocket.

But the expected onslaught materialised and O’Sullivan turned the match on its head with four straight frames and breaks of 64, 61, 56 and 113.

Hawkins then fell 10-7 behind, three down with four to play – before rallying to close the deficit to just a single frame.

But a loose break-off shot from Hawkins in frame 20 proved terminal and O’Sullivan closed out the contest with a brilliant effort of 122.