Matthew Stevens broke his UK championship hoodoo with a nervy 10-8 victory over world number two Stephen Hendry in the best-of-19-frame final at York.
The Welshman had lost finals in 1998 and 1999 but yesterday stayed cool to claim his first ranking title by a 10-8 margin despite some anxious moments.
Both players had opportunities to forge a lead during the match but neither could capitalise, succumbing to lapses in concentration at crucial moments.
Eventually though it was Stevens who held his nerve long enough, picking up on a Hendry error midway through frame 15, with Stevens ahead 8-7.
Hendry missed a red to leave the Welshman that and a colours finish to stretch to a two-frame advantage.
Hendry though was not done and took the next frame with a 120 break, just misjudging his table position when he had a chance at a 147.
That was the cue for a Hendry fightback. The Scot sat out the opening of the next as Stevens opened up a 49-point lead, but when the Welshman missed a shot, Hendry swooped to rack up 54. But then, with the colours to clear, he missed a yellow.
Stevens then cleared to the pink to claim his first ranking tournament win.