UK CHAMPION Ronnie O’Sullivan admitted he didn’t know how he had managed to win a fifth title after fending off a ferocious Judd Trump fight-back.

The Rocket led 5-1 and 9-4 in the York Barbican showpiece but his opponent reeled off five frames in a row to force a sudden-death decider.

O’Sullivan managed to draw on his huge experience to compile a match-winning 51.

Asked how he managed to get over the line, he said: “I don’t really know. I kind of had the upper hand for most of the match and I just lost a bit of concentration.

“At 3-1 I went off the boil a bit and let him back to 5-3. From 9-5 up to 9-9 he has not missed a ball. He has knocked everything in and I didn’t really get a chance. It happened so quick.

“At 9-8 I had a good chance but my mind was just gone. I felt really nervous because, having such a lead, you are thinking ‘if I lose it from here the disappointment will be just unbelievable’.

“The pressure was just mounting and mounting. It is difficult to put it out of your mind but, in the last frame, I managed to get a chance and the balls were nice. I had just to concentrate on hitting solid shots.

“I can’t believe I have won it, to be honest.”

Only Steve Davis with six has won more UK Championship crowns than O’Sullivan, who joins Stephen Hendry on five.

But he added: “I have given up looking at the history books of snooker. A lot of the top players before me have gone off the boil at 31, 32, 33 and haven’t really produced their best snooker beyond that point.

“In the last three or four years, I have. I have had a resurgence working with Steve Peters - a fresh outlook - I have found a bit of form more regularly which has helped me enjoy playing a bit more.

“I’ve found a bit of an appetite for the game.

“Even though I am 39 I am trying to make the most of however long it lasts. I have had to dig deep in this tournament. Seven matches is a lot. We only used to play five. Seven is a lot and, as you get older and especially with the foot for the last 12 days, it has taken a lot out of me.

“It’s not easy. It definitely gets harder as you get older - I know that - but they are great moments to be playing in a venue like this and in a great tournament.

“You have to try and ride that as long as you can.”

Trump said he was proud of his fight-back.

“I knew I had that form in me but, when Ronnie clears up on you every time, it is kind of demoralising. I did it to a couple of opponents and it really hurts,” he said.

“Towards the end I was just kind of giving in. I managed to get to 9-5 and I got a few chances, made a few breaks and felt good.

“I made a really good clearance to go 9-9 and then I felt so relaxed out there. I was just looking for a chance. I potted a really good pink in the middle and tried to split the pack off the red and just finished on the wrong angle.”

He added: “I’m a little bit annoyed that I didn’t have a really good chance in the last but I didn’t bottle it. I gave it my best.

“You have got to get off to a good start against Ronnie. You can’t be giving him five frame leads. I know when I get going I tend to reel off three, four or five frames. I know I have always got it in me but I have left it too late once again.”