Ronnie O'Sullivan cruised to his third World Championship crown after quickly wrapping up an 18-8 victory over Ali Carter in the final session of their final at the Crucible.

Leading 16-8 going into the evening's play, O'Sullivan took the two frames he needed for victory in just half an hour after a streaker had lightened the atmosphere just before the start of the contest.

A break of 69 ultimately proved enough for him to win the first frame of the evening, and then he got in twice in the second frame to seal the win.

Throughout the final O'Sullivan never quite reached the same heights as he did in his clinical semi-final demolition of Stephen Hendry but he was still too good for final debutant Carter who never really settled into the occasion.

O'Sullivan was the outstanding player throughout the 17 days of competition and with the victory he finishes the season as the number one player in the world.

He also picks up a winner's cheque of £250,000 and at 32 becomes the oldest player to win the World Championship since Joe Johnson's success in 1986.

O'Sullivan and Carter will also share £157,000 for both achieving 147 breaks in the tournament.

THIRD SESSION REPORT

Ronnie O'Sullivan has moved just two frames away from his third World Championship after extending his lead to 16-8 over Ali Carter after the third session of their final at the Crucible.

O'Sullivan won a poor third session 5-3 despite being far from his best as Carter once more struggled to make a meaningful impact.

Many of the afternoon's frames went back and forth but that was down to some poor missed pots as opposed to quality safety play and O'Sullivan found himself edging the majority of the tight frames.

He took the opening two frames of the session, before Carter finally got on the board to make it 13-6.

O'Sullivan produced his highest break of the session, a 71, just before the mid-session interval to go 14-6 in front but then Carter came back out and produced an 84 to at least ensure that the game would go into the evening session.

A 71 would help Carter get one more frame before the end but O'Sullivan scrapped his way to two of the afternoon's final three frames, despite Carter having his chances to nick both of those frames.

The players will potentially play 11 frames when they resume at 20.00 BST but on current form it is hard to see O'Sullivan needing more than a couple of frames to wrap up the victory.

SECOND SESSION REPORT

Ronnie O'Sullivan managed to extend his lead to 11-5 after the second session of his World Championship final with Ali Carter at the Crucible.

Once again O'Sullivan wasn't quite motoring at his best, but he still did enough to edge the session 5-3 and move ever closer to his third world title.

A break of 106 in the final frame of the session proved to be O'Sullivan's first century of the match, but it was the proceeding frame that could ultimately prove to be the one that ruined Carter's chance of an upset.

A break of 57 had put O'Sullivan in charge of that frame but then he lost position and Carter got in for what looked destined to be a frame winning break.

However, the first time finalist put too much emphasis on getting position on the final red off a yellow - and he ended up missing the pot; O'Sullivan would then eventually go on and take the frame.

O'Sullivan actually won the last three frames of the session which stopped a run from Carter that looked like it was going to get him back into the match.

After O'Sullivan won the evening's first frame, Carter took three of the next four.

The last of those made it 8-5, and it was that frame in particular, that made you feel that it could be Carter's evening, as he had a clearance of 80 after O'Sullivan saw a cruel kick end a break while 45-0 in front.

However, Carter couldn't build on from that, and he now has it all to do if he is to get back into the match.

FIRST SESSION REPORT

Ronnie O'Sullivan has taken early control of the World Championship final by building a 6-2 lead over Ali Carter after the opening session at the Crucible.

In a scrappy session neither player looked to be firing on all cylinders but a strong start allowed O'Sullivan to take the initiative.

"The Rocket" came back from 56-9 in the opening frame to take first blood, and then looked as if he was well on course to replicating the wondrous form he showed in the semi-finals by producing back-to-back breaks of 88 and 99 to move 3-0 in front.

However, Carter stopped him in his tracks with a break of 104 just before the mid-session interval, but when they returned, O'Sullivan quickly restored his three frame advantage with a 74 break.

Then the match entered its messy stage with both players struggling to get anything going.

Carter stumbled over the line to make it 4-2 despite needing numerous chances to close out the frame, but he couldn't get anything going in the next two frames which allowed O'Sullivan to move 6-2 in front, even though the cue action of the two-time champion was also looking somewhat off.

A tired Carter will now need to pick himself up for the evening session if he is to keep the deficit at a manageable level going into tomorrow.

Seán Fay / Eurosport