Ronnie O’Sullivan felt he was ‘lucky’ to have avoided losing three straight Champion of Champions finals after defeating Kyren Wilson 10-9 at the Ricoh Arena.

The five-time world champion appeared to be cruising to victory when he recovered from losing the opening frame to win five on the bounce and lead 5-1.

Wilson defiantly took the next two but O’Sullivan’s 131 break ensured he’d have a lead going into the evening session.

‘The Rocket’ led 8-5 as victory seemed to be coming his way but Wilson rallied and played his best snooker to win four frames and take the lead at 9-8.

A break of 61 in the penultimate frame had Wilson two pots away from victory but he missed a red bridging over the pack and O’Sullivan levelled the match.

He did so only after attempting an improbable back-double on the final red and inadvertently snookering Wilson having missed.

O’Sullivan made a superb 110, his 11th century of the tournament, to take the decider after Wilson had endured more rough luck when he potted a red after going into the pack when taking a black ball.

For O’Sullivan it was a fortuitous success as he sealed his third title in Coventry, where he contested the final in all five appearances.

“It feels great to win the title,” said O’Sullivan. “To go 4-1 up I played pretty decent and thought this was going to be a nice day. Then the wheels fell off and I was hanging on really.

“I wasn’t playing with enough fluency to dominate. I wasn’t at my best but you have to compete and do your best and give whatever there is to give on the day and that is what I did.

“For me, I am just pleased to be competing. If I win I win and, if I don’t, I don’t. It’s just nice to be playing.

“I was lucky. He should’ve won it. I got away with that double.”

‘The Rocket’ heads straight to Belfast where he’ll face Soheil Vahedi on Tuesday in the Northern Ireland Open. He is 2.25 to win that match 4-0.