Bristol's Judd Trump became snooker's 11th multiple Masters champion with what he called "by far the best win of my career".
The Juddernaut stood up to everything the wily Mark Williams could throw at him at Alexandra Palace to run out a 10-8 winner and claim the £250,000 first prize.
Trump, who led 5-3 after the first session of the final at Alexandra Palace in north London, found himself 8-7 behind as Williams, the 1998 and 2003 champion playing in his first Masters final for 20 years, took the lead with a 107 break. But Trump who had earlier won a marathon 58-minute frame dug in to win the next three, finishing in style with a fine clearance to add to his 2019 Masters triumph.
It was a timely win for world No 4 Trump, 33, who has attracted some criticism for not winning enough of the biggest events the sport has to offer. But this was a fourth major to go with his successes at the World Championship and the UK Championship.
"It is incredible," said Trump. "I got outplayed for the whole game really and at 8-7 down I was gone. I just managed to play well at the end. I should have been out in the first round, and the second round - I am like a cat. I have missed balls over pockets by miles. The way it has all gone, this is by far my best ever win to grind out the title and battle the way I have."
This was a serious disappointment for Williams, who celebrates his 48th birthday in 65 days' time. Had he prevailed, he would have smashed the record for being the oldest ever winner of a snooker major set by fellow Welshman Doug Mountjoy at the UK Championship in 1988.
"I am not a young man, but I am still giving these youngsters a run for their money," said Williams. "I could not have given any more. It has been a brilliant week."
Fate played a key part in this Trump triumph. He really should have been beaten in the first round by Ryan Day, who had plenty of chances to knock him out from 5-3 up. And there was another deciding-frame 6-5 win over Barry Hawkins in the quarter-finals before a 6-1 win over Stuart Bingham to reach the final.
It has been a patchy season for Trump, who did get to the final of the Champion of Champions but has failed to fire at most venues. So this victory was particularly sweet.
The two players from different snooker eras received a huge ovation as they entered the Alexandra Palace arena at the start of the final and that was to be replicated in the evening.
Both already had their place in Masters history, with this year marking the 25th anniversary of the first of Williams' two successes at the old Wembley Conference Centre venue.
World No 8 Williams was the oldest Masters finalist since Ray Reardon at 50 had lost to Cliff Thorburn 40 years ago.
The Welshman started with a 138 total clearance but Trump (left) soon led 4-1, helped by breaks of 61, 106 and 73. Breaks of 100 and 60 helped Williams trim the deficit to 5-3 ahead of the evening session.
After trailing 7-6, Trump won a 57-minute 14th frame to level at 7-7. And after a Williams effort of 107, Trump found his best at the death.
A break of 59 put Trump back into the lead with two bites at the cherry to close out the contest. And after a missed red from his opponent, he gleefully claimed the spoils.
