Masters Snooker 2016 Final: Score, Result, Prize-Money Info and Reaction

Ronnie O'Sullivan thrashed Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the 2016 Masters Snooker final on Sunday, pulling him level with Stephen Hendry on six Masters titles.

After losing the first, the Rocket won seven consecutive frames in the opening session as he stunned his opponent and put himself in the driving seat to take home the prestigious title.

Play resumed in the evening at 7-1, and O'Sullivan wasted little time in seeing out the victory in style, with the session lasting just one hour.

O'Sullivan will also take home a hefty £200,000 purse, according to the tournament's official website.

Evening Session

Knowing he had serious ground to make up on his opponent, Hawkins put in a valiant effort in the first frame of the evening session. However, the frame went against him in the cruellest way possible, per World Snooker:

O'Sullivan maintained his momentum in the following frame and claimed it with a 66 break as Hawkins failed to get on the board, moving him just one frame away from victory.

Rocket then displayed his tactical prowess to see out the victory, employing a series of safeties en route to the title:

Per Shamoon Hafez of BBC Sport, O'Sullivan said:

"

I am over the moon, I knew I needed to raise my level. I was able to do that and I managed my emotions well. I am delighted to play as well I have done. ...

I am never normally surprised when I win tournaments but I am surprised I have won it after eight months out. It is about producing when it matters.

This is only a week, but to keep your focus for 17 days at the World Championship is a grind, we'll see how it goes.

"

Meanwhile, per Hafez, Hawkins joked:

"

I wish he retired. I am disappointed with my performance I didn't give him a game. I was all over the place.

If someone said I would have got to the final, I would have ripped their arm off. It is hard to take positives, even though I played well most of the week.

"

Afternoon Session

Hawkins—who had won just one of his 10 previous meetings with O'Sullivan—looked like he would make the encounter a tighter affair as he claimed the opening frame on the pink, per World Snooker:

However, it quickly became clear there was only one horse in this race, as O'Sullivan hit a break of 70, before moving in front in stunning fashion:

A missed long yellow ensured Hawkins passed up the chance to level, and as his opponent proved in the next frame, his long game was in top form:

The Hawk remained tense throughout the match and yet more misses—far more straightforward, too—saw O'Sullivan capitalise and take a three-frame lead. As BBC Snooker noted, the five-time Masters champion was enjoying an easy day out thus far:

The pair offered a stark contrast—Hawkins was nervous and profligate; O'Sullivan was focused and clinical, and he demonstrated that in the sixth, per World Snooker:

Hawkins continued to wilt under pressure as he struggled to rack up any meaningful points totals, and a break of 77 gave O'Sullivan a 6-1 lead.

Rocket followed that up with a swift 72 to bring about the end of Sunday's one-sided afternoon session.

Fellow pro Mark Williams highlighted O'Sullivan's dominance over the competition while Pro Snooker Blog's Matt Huart noted Rocket has form in putting in strong afternoon performances:

Sunday's victory was typical O'Sullivan. His natural talent is such that he can return from a long layoff and instantly hit title-winning form. His next major focus will be the World Championship, which starts on April 16.