Fu stuns Rocket

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The world number 27 fought back from 5-3 down to beat former Crucible king O'Sullivan 9-6, winning six of the last seven frames to triumph at this year's £470,500 event at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

In doing so Fu pocketed £75,000 as this year's winner, while O'Sullivan - last a Grand Prix winner in 2004 - took home £35,000 as runner-up.

"It's not sunk in yet," admitted Fu after playing in his first ranking final for nine years. "Ronnie has made this night very special for me. He's my idol and he's the best player in the world."

Fu, runner-up to Stephen Lee at the 1998 Grand Prix final, led 3-1 at the afternoon interval thanks to breaks of 78, 110 and 74, while O'Sullivan knocked in a cool 85 break to stay in touch.

But it was the 'Rocket' who dominated after the break, runs of 127 and 75 enough to level proceedings, before he won the seventh frame on points 64-33 for a welcome 4-3 lead.

O'Sullivan edged the opening frame of the evening session for a 5-3 lead after both players failed to compile any break of note. However, just when it looked as though the world number five was going to pull away as he often has in the past, the Chigwell cueman was left rooted to his chair as Fu found his feet.

Fu reduced the arrears to 5-4 by winning a scrappy ninth frame on points 99-0, before impressing with a break of 94 in the next to level. And it got even better for Fu as a superb 117 clearance in the next frame allowed him to edge ahead again.

A composed run of 62 did enough damage to win the 12th frame for the former world amateur champion, before O'Sullivan pulled within one frame of levelling with a pressure break of 65. But Fu dug deep and after O'Sullivan took the initiative with a 52 break in the 14th frame, he made an unbelievable 60 clearance to pinch the frame.

A match-winning break of 76 followed and Fu admitted: "I needed that break. I needed that clearance badly, but I needed a bit of luck. I couldn't make a 50 for 24 months until I started working with (1979 world champion) Terry Griffiths. I own him a huge thank you."