England's Ronnie O'Sullivan poses with the trophy after his victory over China's Ding Junhui in the final of the 2023 MrQ UK Championship at the York Barbican in York in Northern England on Dec 3, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

LONDON - British world number one snooker Ronnie O'Sullivan claimed his eighth UK Championship title in York on Sunday, beating China's Ding Junhui 10-7 in the final.

O'Sullivan, who had become the youngest ever UK champion in 1993 at the age of 17, became the oldest one in 2023, just two days shy of his 48th birthday.

The Englishman has extended his lead on the list of most UK Championship victories, followed by Steve Davis (6), Stephen Hendry (5), Ding (3), John Higgins (3) and Neil Robertson (3).

O'Sullivan scooped the 250,000 pounds ($317,000) top prize and consolidated his position as world number one. Ding received 100,000 pounds for finishing runner-up and secured his place in the top 16 of the world rankings and qualification for the Masters, where he will face O'Sullivan in the first round.

Ronnie O'Sullivan plays a shot during the final against Ding Junhui on day nine of the Snooker UK Championship at the York Barbican, on Dec 3, 2023, in York, England. (PHOTO / AP)

The final's afternoon session saw Ding fight back from 4-1 down to level at 4-4.

In the evening session, O'Sullivan fired in a superb 84 break to regain the lead at 5-4, only for Ding to restore parity in the tenth frame. Then, O'Sullivan took charge with contributions of 87 and 79 to establish a 7-5 lead at the mid-session interval.

ALSO READ: Ding Junhui into UK Snooker Championship semifinal

Ding summoned a charge to get himself back into contention. Runs of 52 and 104 helped him take two frames on the bounce and once again square the match at 7-7.

Then O'Sullivan found a way to push himself towards victory. Breaks of 100 and 74 moved him within one frame at 9-7. He sent a raucous crowd into raptures in the 17th frame with a spellbinding 127 break.

China's Ding Junhui prepares to play a shot during his match against Britain's Ronnie O'Sullivan, on day nine of the Snooker UK Championship at the York Barbican, in York, England, on Dec 3, 2023. (PHOTO / AP)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (left) and Ding Junhui pose for photos ahead of the final of the 2023 MrQ UK Championship at the York Barbican in York in Northern England on Dec 3, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

"I love competing, and I love that I went out there tonight and I used my head. I just wanted to go out there today and try hard to be professional and honest," said a delighted O'Sullivan.

"It was an honor to play Ding. He's such a classy player and such a classy guy. To share the table with him in that venue and in that final was an honor. I know there will have been so many people in China watching that final supporting Ding and supporting me as well. We've put on a good show," he added.

READ MORE: O'Sullivan says he lost years of his career to alcohol and drugs

Ding said after the final, "It was a very good week. I knew it was going to be very tough tonight. I missed a couple of shots to win frames in the first session. I tried to get more points and fight to win a frame then get another and see what happens. To be 4-4 was not too bad but he played better tonight."