FEW at snooker's mecca last night would countenance the thought of Ronnie O'Sullivan laying down his cue for the last time.

Not after the Rocket had dispatched Barry Hawkins 18-12 to become the first player for 17 years to defend the World Championship.

O'Sullivan entered last night's final session with a commanding 15-10 lead and requiring only three frames to don his fifth world crown. The Londoner took just over an hour to do so as he eased past the world No.14, who will be credited with producing a spirited performance in his debut Crucible final.

O'Sullivan is the first player since Stephen Hendry, the seven-time world champion, in 1996 to make a successful world title defence.

"It's great to win it again and I've really enjoyed it over the last few weeks," said O'Sullivan, who punched the air in delight after his victory.

"That's the hardest anyone has pushed me. I just hung in there. I just couldn't get him off me. My mood has been up and down like a whore's drawers, but I've had a great time coming back. I still love playing, but I do need other things to balance my life."

It was Hawkins who won the opening frame of the afternoon having returned 10-7 down to reduce his arrears as he looked to mount a comeback. But O'Sullivan responded with breaks of 54 and 76 to restore his three-frame cushion and then moved four frames in front after Hawkins missed a chance to claw back again. Hawkins missed a red to a corner pocket and O'Sullivan made a superb 55 clearance to pinch the frame on the final black ball.

Hawkins cut the deficit to 12-9 before the mid-session interval but O'Sullivan pocketed a 133 break immediately after the resumption to maintain his dominance. A 67 clearance put him five frames ahead for the first time as Hawkins' title-hopes slipped away.

The Ditton professional did pull back to 14-10, but O'Sullivan compiled another century, this time a 124 clearance, to enter the home straight. That century, his sixth of the match, was the first time any player has compiled six centuries in a Crucible final in the 35 years it has been played at the iconic venue.

Hendry, John Higgins and Matthew Stevens have all had five centuries in the world final, but O'Sullivan again continues to set the benchmark as the best player on the circuit.

Hawkins hit back with a fine 131 clearance in the first frame after the resumption and then added a break of 66 to cut his arrears to three frames. But O'Sullivan reeled off the next three frames with breaks of 77, 88 and 86 to complete a memorable comeback to the sport and pick up the £250,000 prize. Hawkins pocketed £125,000.

"I tried my hardest, but Ronnie's unbelievable," admitted Hawkins. "I'm just glad I made some sort of game out of it. The last couple of weeks have been really hard. I wanted to win it, but I couldn't have come up against an harder opponent. It's a shame I lost but Ronnie is by far and away the best player in the world."

O'Sullivan said he thought it was "a brilliant final" and that he had really enjoyed it.

"It's a great feeling having come through. I always knew Barry had the talent. He put me under a lot of pressure. He came out all guns blazing and I had to pull some big clearances out of the bag. I had to dig deep.

"Winning my first world title was massive and meant a lot to me, but the second and third, well I didn't realise what I'd achieved. I never came here expecting to win it. But I worked hard with Steve Peters [psychologist]; I've managed my mind and my emotions better than I've ever done. I had my knickers in a twist before I met him and he's been a massive help. But I got stronger and stronger through the tournament. I had to face my demons during this tournament. I had everything to lose and nothing to gain. To the outside world I should never lose, but everyone on the snooker circuit knows that's not the case. One good thing this tournament has done has got me a wildcard into the Masters."

O'Sullivan has threatened to quit again after this year's 17-day marathon but his good friend, Jimmy White, believes the unpredictable player has no intention of packing away his cue.

White, six times a world finalist, was the man who persuaded O'Sullivan to defend his title.

"Ronnie will be back next year," said White. "I heard him turn round and say that he loves snooker and that was music to my ears. I don't think he is going to retire. I just think things get to him. Stuff like being in a hotel room and the pressure. Sometimes this is his outlet. He needs snooker and snooker needs him."

Hawkins summed up the feelings of many in the arena last night. "He's got to go down as the greatest player ever," he said. "What he has done is unbelieavble after having a year out. I don't think anyone else could do that and go through the field like he has. He's just a phenomenal talent."