Ronnie O'Sullivan won snooker's prestigious Dafabet Masters title for a record seventh time after a 10-7 victory over Joe Perry in Sunday's final at Alexandra Palace.

The Rocket, who drew level with Stephen Hendry's mark of six when thrashing Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the 2016 final, now holds the record on his own - but only after resisting a plucky comeback from journeyman Perry.

Despite being the hot odds-on favourite for glory, O'Sullivan initially found himself 4-1 down after a slow start before a run of seven successive frames - including the last three of the afternoon session which levelled the interval scores at 4-4 - saw him race into a commanding 8-4 lead and onto the brink of victory.

But Perry, appearing in his first ever Masters final at the age of 42 after a dream run this past week, battled back bravely with breaks of 117 and 92 to close the gap and was presented with another superb opportunity in the next when O'Sullivan missed a routine red when 18-0 up.

But he spurned that chance immediately with a costly miss on his first red before watching on in despair as the Chigwell cueman, also a five-time runner-up in snooker's biggest invitational tournament, finally made his first century of the match - 112 - to halt his opponent's mini revival.

Perry produced a stirring comeback from 5-2 down to defeat Barry Hawkins 6-5 in Saturday's semi-finals and once again refused to lie down as he continued to make the most of his maiden final in any of snooker's Triple Crown events.

The Cambridgeshire potter, who came into this match having only defeated the Rocket twice in 15 previous meetings with his last victory coming way back in 2008, made a cool break of 53 to pinch the 16th frame and close back to within two but he still couldn't afford to put another foot wrong.

He then led 39-0 before an unfortunate miss on a yellow and then a red on his next visit presented O'Sullivan with a golden chance to rally once more but a break of just 36 left the frame on a knife edge.

In a scrappy conclusion, Perry's costly miss on the final red let the Rocket back in and this time he made no mistake as he cleared up to become a seven-time Masters champion and get his hands on the Paul Hunter Trophy as well as a cheque for £200,000.

Perry, who upset the odds to knock out Stuart Bingham, Ding Junhui and Hawkins en route to the final of an event he'd previously only managed one win in nine matches dating back to 2003, receives £90,000 for his superb run this week which is the second biggest pay day of his career after the £100,000 he banked for winning his first and only ranking title at the 2015 Players Championship.

Below, we have reaction from both players, a frame-by-frame breakdown of the final, a review of their respective routes to the final and tournament statistics, the full Masters 2017 results and century breaks as well as a look back at the prestigious event's previous finals. 

O'Sullivan v Perry: Player Reaction

Ronnie O'Sullivan: "Joe played a brilliant tournament, a really good match and he should've beaten me, I got lucky - I stole it.

"Joe will come again and he is a tough competitor. I'm just relieved to have got over the line. The fans have been unbelievable and I really enjoyed this week.

"It is great to get some records, I still have the World Championship one to get.

"When I was younger I was just happy to win one, so to win seven, someone up there is looking after me. I just appreciate every opportunity to play in front of these fans."

Joe Perry: "I've proved a lot, that there is still some life left in me and it has given me the belief to go on and win a big one. I got Ronnie on a good day really. At 4-1 up I got a bit carried away and it was not until I was 8-4 down I thought, 'I'm going for it'.

"It's given me the taste to go for more finals, it's a great feeling to be involved and you take snooker up for nights like this. Fair play to Ronnie, even when he is not at his best he is still amazing."  

O'Sullivan 10-7 Perry: Frame-by-frame scores
Breaks over 50 in brackets

Frame 1: O'Sullivan 24-79 (72) Perry
Frame 2: O'Sullivan 16-101 (53) Perry
Frame 3: O'Sullivan (58) 86-27 Perry
Frame 4: O'Sullivan 31-90 (74) Perry
Frame 5: O'Sullivan 0-115 (115) Perry
Frame 6: O'Sullivan 67-40 Perry
Frame 7: O'Sullivan 61-21 Perry
Frame 8: O'Sullivan (55) 81-23 Perry
Frame 9: O'Sullivan 51-14 Perry
Frame 10: O'Sullivan (56 & 68) 124-4 Perry
Frame 11: O'Sullivan 67-12 Perry
Frame 12: O'Sullivan (85) 108-15 Perry
Frame 13: O'Sullivan 1-117 (117) Perry
Frame 14: O'Sullivan 1-92 (92) Perry
Frame 15: O'Sullivan (112) 130-0 Perry
Frame 16: O'Sullivan 1-106 (53) Perry
Frame 17: O'Sullivan 59-39 Perry

O'Sullivan v Perry: Routes to the final

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN

First Round
6-5 v Liang Wenbo
Breaks 50-100: 55, 80, 89 & 121
Century Breaks: 121

Quarter-Final
6-3 v Neil Robertson
Breaks 50-100: 51, 54, 55, 63 & 68
Century Breaks: 0

Semi-Final
6-4 v Marco Fu
Breaks 50-100: 55, 63, 69, 82, 95
Century Breaks: 122

JOE PERRY

First Round
6-1 v Stuart Bingham
Breaks 50-100: 76, 77
Century Breaks: 107, 116

Quarter-Final
6-1 v Ding Junhui
Breaks 50-100: 55, 63
Century Breaks: 127

Semi-Final
6-5 v Barry Hawkins
Breaks 50-100: 57, 62, 70
Century Breaks: 0

O'Sullivan v Perry: Tournament statistics

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN

Frames Won-Lost: 28-19
Breaks 50-59: 8
Breaks 60-69: 5
Breaks 70-79: 0
Breaks 80-89: 4
Breaks 90-99: 1
Century Breaks For: 3 (122, 121, 112)
Century Breaks Against: 5 (141, 110, 109, 117, 115)
Highest Break: 122

JOE PERRY

Frames Won-Lost: 25-17
Breaks 50-59: 4
Breaks 60-69: 2
Breaks 70-79: 5
Breaks 80-89: 0
Breaks 90-99: 1
Century Breaks For: 5 (127, 117, 116, 115, 107)
Century Breaks Against: 2 (132, 112)
Highest Break: 127

O'Sullivan v Perry: Masters Histories

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN

1994: Wildcard round (lost to Dennis Taylor)
1995: CHAMPION (beat John Higgins)
1996: Runner-up (lost to Stephen Hendry)
1997: Runner-up (lost to Steve Davis)
1998: Quarter-final (lost to Steve Davis)
1999: Quarter-final (lost to Ken Doherty)
2000: Quarter-final (lost to John Parrott)
2001: First round (lost to Jimmy White)
2002: Quarter-final (lost to Jimmy White)
2003: Quarter-final (lost to Ken Doherty)
2004: Runner-up (lost to Paul Hunter)
2005: CHAMPION (beat John Higgins)
2006: Runner-up (lost to John Higgins)
2007: CHAMPION (beat Ding Junhui)
2008: First round (lost to Stephen Maguire)
2009: CHAMPION (beat Mark Selby)
2010: Runner-up (lost to Mark Selby)
2011: First round (lost to Mark Allen)
2012: Quarter-final (lost to Judd Trump)
2013: Did not play
2014: CHAMPION (beat Mark Selby)
2015: Semi-final (lost to Neil Robertson)
2016: CHAMPION (beat Barry Hawkins)
2017: CHAMPION (beat Joe Perry)

JOE PERRY

2003: First round (lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan)
2004: Wild Card round (lost to Ding Junhui)
2006: Wild Card round (lost to Ian McCulloch)
2009: First round (lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan)
2010: First round (lost to Ryan Day)
2014: First round (lost to Stephen Maguire)
2015: Quarter-final (lost to Mark Allen)
2016: First round (lost to Barry Hawkins)
2017: Runner-up (lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan)

O'Sullivan v Perry: Head-to-head record

Matches: 16
O'Sullivan wins: 14
Perry wins: 2

2017 Masters (Final): O'Sullivan 10-7 Perry
2016 Welsh Open (SF): O'Sullivan 6-3 Perry
2015 German Masters (L16): O'Sullivan 5-0 Perry
2014 World Championships (L16): O'Sullivan 13-11 Perry
2013 Antwerp Open (QF): O'Sullivan 4-0 Perry
2012 German Masters (L16): O'Sullivan 5-1 Perry
2011 PTC Final: O'Sullivan 4-0 Perry
2009 Masters (L16): O'Sullivan 6-5 Perry
2008 UK Championship (L16): O'Sullivan 5-9 Perry
2008 Premier League (SF): O'Sullivan 5-4 Perry
2008 Premier League (League): O'Sullivan 2-4 Perry
2008 Shanghai Masters (L16): O'Sullivan 5-3 Perry
2008 Northern Ireland Trophy (L16): O'Sullivan 5-3 Perry
2004 Welsh Open (L16): O'Sullivan 5-2 Perry
2003 Masters (L16): O'Sullivan 6-1 Perry
1999 World Championships (QF): O'Sullivan 13-9 Perry

O'Sullivan v Perry: Factfiles & Major career titles

Ronnie O'Sullivan
DOB: 5/12/1975
Residence: Essex
Turned Pro: 1992
Highest Break: 147 x 12
Ranking Event titles: 28 (including 5 x World Championships & 5 x UK Championships)
Ranking Event finals: 42
Masters titles: 7

Joe Perry
DOB: 13/08/1974
Residence: Cambridgeshire
Turned Pro: 1991
Highest Break: 145
Ranking Event titles: 1 (2015 Players Championship)
Ranking Event finals: 3
Masters titles: 0 

O'Sullivan v Perry: 2016/17 Season Form

RONNIE O'SULLIVAN

Shanghai Masters: Second round (lost to Michael Holt)
European Masters: Runner-up (lost to Judd Trump)
English Open: Third round (lost to Chris Wakelin)
International Championship: Third round (lost to Michael Holt)
Champion of Champions: Runner-up (lost to John Higgins)
Northern Ireland Open: Fourth round (lost to Kyren Wilson)
UK Championship: Runner-up (lost to Mark Selby)
Scottish Open: Quarter-final (lost to John Higgins)
Masters: Won (beat Joe Perry)

JOE PERRY

Riga Masters: First round (lost to John J Astley)
World Open: Runner-up (lost to Ali Carter)
Paul Hunter Classic: Second round (lost to Robbie Williams)
Shanghai Masters: First round (lost to Stuart Carrington)
English Open: First round (lost to Matthew Selt)
International Championship: Quarter-final (lost to Mark Selby)
Champion of Champions: First round (lost to Mark Allen)
Northern Ireland Open: Third round (lost to Jack Lisowski)
UK Championship: Third round (lost to Matthew Stevens)
Scottish Open: Third round (lost to Robert Milkins)
Masters: Final (lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan) 

Masters 2017: Results & Top Breaks

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Seedings in brackets

Final (best of 19 frames)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 10-7 Joe Perry (9)

Semi-Finals (best of 11 frames)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 6-4 Marco Fu (14)
Joe Perry (9) 6-5 Barry Hawkins (11)

Quarter-Finals (best of 11 frames)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 6-3 Neil Robertson (8)
Marco Fu (14) 6-2 Mark Allen (10)
Joe Perry (9) 6-1 Ding Junhui (6)
Barry Hawkins (11) 6-3 Mark Selby (2)

First Round (best of 11 frames)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (1) 6-5 Liang Wenbo (12)
Neil Robertson (8) 6-3 Ali Carter (13)
Judd Trump (5) 5-6 Marco Fu (14)
John Higgins (4) 5-6 Mark Allen (10)
Stuart Bingham (3) 1-6 Joe Perry (9)
Ding Junhui (6) 6-3 Kyren Wilson (16)
Shaun Murphy (7) 1-6 Barry Hawkins (11)
Mark Selby (2) 6-5 Mark Williams (15)

CENTURY BREAKS

141: Marco Fu (v Ronnie O'Sullivan)
140: Marco Fu (v Mark Allen)
139: Mark Selby (v Mark Williams)
132: Stuart Bingham (v Joe Perry)
130: Marco Fu (v Judd Trump)
127: Joe Perry (v Ding Junhui)
122: Ronnie O'Sullivan (v Marco Fu)
121: Ronnie O'Sullivan (v Liang Wenbo)
120: Ding Junhui (v Kyren Wilson)
117: Neil Robertson (v Ali Carter)
117: Joe Perry (v Ronnie O'Sullivan)
116: Joe Perry (v Stuart Bingham)
115: Joe Perry (v Ronnie O'Sullivan)
112: Judd Trump (v Marco Fu)
112: Ronnie O'Sullivan (v Joe Perry)
111: John Higgins (v Mark Allen)
110: Marco Fu (v Judd Trump)
110: Marco Fu (v Ronnie O'Sullivan)
109: Liang Wenbo (v Ronnie O'Sullivan)
109: Mark Selby (v Mark Williams)
107: Joe Perry (v Stuart Bingham)
106: Kyren Wilson (v Ding Junhui)
104: Mark Allen (John Higgins)
102: Marco Fu (v Judd Trump)
102: Judd Trump (v Marco Fu)
101: Mark Selby (v Barry Hawkins)

TOP FIVE 100 BREAK MAKERS

Marco Fu: 6 (Three matches)
Joe Perry: 5 (Four matches)
Mark Selby: 3 (Two matches)
Ronnie O'Sullivan: 3 (Four matches)
Judd Trump: 2 (One match)

Masters Snooker: Prize Fund
Winner: £200,000
Runner-up: £90,000
Semi-finals: £50,000
Quarter-finals: £25,000
Last 16: £12,500
Highest break: £10,000
Total: £600,000

Masters Snooker History
The Masters, which makes up snooker's Triple Crown, is the second longest running snooker event behind the worlds although there are no ranking points on offer as it remains a purely invitational tournament of just 16 players - who are usually the highest ranked in the world at the time.

The event began in 1975 when John Spencer beat Ray Reardon 9-8 in a thriller and has always been held in London although the venue switched to Alexandra Palace from Wembley in 2012.

Snooker's biggest names of the past such as Ray Reardon, Steve Davis, Alex Higgins and Cliff Thorburn have all won this trophy - as well as one of the most lucrative winners' cheques in the sport - but Stephen Hendry then became the most successful player in the event's history when winning it five times in a row and six in total during the height of his powers in the early 1990s.

Ronnie O'Sullivan then equalled this record in 2016 with a 10-1 thrashing of Barry Hawkins in 2016 and then a year later moved one clear with a 10-7 victory over Joe Perry.

Shaun Murphy's 2015 triumph over Neil Robertson saw him become just the 10th player in history to complete the Triple Crown having previously won the World Championship and UK Championship once each.

The others are Stephen Hendry (7 worlds, 5 UKs & 6 Masters), Steve Davis (6 worlds, 6 UKs & 3 Masters), Ronnie O'Sullivan (5 worlds, 5 UKs & 6 Masters), John Higgins (4 worlds, 3 UKs & 2 Masters), Mark Williams (2 worlds, 2 UKs & 2 Masters), Alex Higgins (2 worlds, 1 UKs & 2 Masters), Mark Selby (1 worlds, 1 UKs & 3 Masters), Terry Griffiths (1 worlds, 1 UKs & 1 Masters) and Neil Robertson (1 worlds, 1 UKs & 1 Masters).

Masters Most Titles
Ronnie O'Sullivan - 7
Stephen Hendry - 6
Steve Davis - 3
Mark Selby - 3
Cliff Thorburn - 3
Paul Hunter - 3
John Higgins - 2
Mark Williams - 2
Alex Higgins - 2
John Spencer - 1
Ray Reardon - 1
Doug Mountjoy - 1
Perrie Mans - 1
Terry Griffiths - 1
Jimmy White - 1
Dennis Taylor - 1
Alan McManus - 1
Matthew Stevens - 1
Ding Junhui - 1
Neil Robertson - 1
Shaun Murphy - 1

Masters Snooker Finals
1975 - John Spencer 9-8 Ray Reardon
1976 - Ray Reardon 7-3 Graham Miles
1977 - Doug Mountjoy 7-6 Ray Reardon
1978 - Alex Higgins 7-5 Cliff Thorburn
1979 - Perrie Mans 8-4 Alex Higgins
1980 - Terry Griffiths 9-5 Alex Higgins
1981 - Alex Higgins 9-6 Terry Griffiths
1982 - Steve Davis 9-5 Terry Griffiths
1983 - Cliff Thorburn 9-7 Ray Reardon
1984 - Jimmy White 9-5 Terry Griffiths
1985 - Cliff Thorburn 9-6 Doug Mountjoy
1986- Cliff Thorburn 9-5 Jimmy White
1987 - Dennis Taylor 9-8 Alex Higgins
1988 - Steve Davis 9-0 Mike Hallett
1989 - Stephen Hendry 9-6 John Parrott
1990 - Stephen Hendry 9-4 John Parrott
1991 - Stephen Hendry 9-8 Mike Hallett
1992 - Stephen Hendry 9-4 John Parrott
1993 - Stephen Hendry 9-5 James Wattana
1994 - Alan McManus 9-8 Stephen Hendry
1995 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-3 John Higgins
1996 - Stephen Hendry 10-5 Ronnie O'Sullivan
1997 - Steve Davis 10-8 Ronnie O'Sullivan
1998 - Mark Williams 10-9 Stephen Hendry
1999 - John Higgins 10-8 Ken Doherty
2000 - Matthew Stevens 10-8 Ken Doherty
2001 - Paul Hunter 10-9 Fergal O'Brien
2002 - Paul Hunter 10-9 Mark Williams
2003 - Mark Williams 10-4 Stephen Hendry
2004 - Paul Hunter 10-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan
2005 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-3 John Higgins
2006 - John Higgins 10-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan
2007 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-3 Ding Junhui
2008 - Mark Selby 10-3 Stephen Lee
2009 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-8 Mark Selby
2010 - Mark Selby 10-9 Ronnie O'Sullivan
2011 - Ding Junhui 10-4 Marco Fu
2012 - Neil Robertson 10-6 Shaun Murphy
2013 - Mark Selby 10-6 Neil Robertson
2014 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-4 Mark Selby
2015 - Shaun Murphy 10-2 Neil Robertson
2016 - Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-1 Barry Hawkins