The final shot was played - and the crowd at the CrucibleA theatre in Sheffield. Its name was inspired by the local steel industry. exploded with delight. "Snooker's greatest showman, Ronnie O'Sullivan is in seventh heavenAccording to some ancient religions, there are seven parts to heaven, the seventh being the highest.!" Exclaimed the BBC commentator, as the new champion walked over to give his defeated opponent a long hug. "He beats Judd Trump 18 frames to 13 to equal Steven HendryA Scottish player who became the youngest world champion in 1990, aged 21.'s modern-day record of seven world titles!"

O'Sullivan's victory was emphatic - but it had not all been plain sailing. On Sunday, the first day of the two-day match, he built a commanding 12-5 lead, prompting former champion Shaun Murphy to say: "It will now be up to Judd and his family and friends to pull it out of his boots. You almost feel like not coming on the Monday."

Yet Trump fought back, winning six of the next eight frames to reach 14-11 before O'Sullivan finally pulled away. At 47 "The Rocket" became the oldest world champion - and some would say the greatest player - ever.

O'Sullivan had an extraordinary start to his career. He made his first century breakScoring 100 points during one turn. It requires potting at least 25 balls. at 10 and his first maximum breakThe highest score you can get in one turn: 147 points. It involves potting 36 balls. at 15. At 16 he turned professional and won his first 38 matches, which is still a record. At 17 he won the British championship - the youngest player ever to do so.

But that same year everything went wrong: his father was sent to prison for murder. Three years later, his mother was jailed for tax evasion.

From then on his life became, as Sam Knight put it in The New Yorker, "a bewildering odysseyA long, adventurous journey. The word is the title of an epic poem by Homer about how Odysseus spent 10 years trying to reach home after the Trojan War. of breakdowns, addictions, and redemptions." He drank too much, became addicted to marijuana and was suspended for head-butting an official. At 25 he won his first World Championship but felt so low during the tournament that he rang the Samaritans and became addicted to ProzacA widely used anti-depressant drug.. 

By 34 he felt washed up. He was involved in a messy divorce and reduced to living on a barge. For two years he did not win a single important competition. In his own words, "I was looking for the exit door and fighting the demons."

Then his manager persuaded him to visit Steve Peters, a professor of psychiatry at Sheffield University. "He was really in a bad place," Peters remembers. "It was quite disturbing to see."

Peters explained his theory that the brain has two sides. There are rational "human" parts and more primitive, powerful "chimp" parts. The chimp carries out essential functions but is prone to panic.

To deal with this, Peters got O'Sullivan to write down his negative chimp thoughts, and then neutralise them with proven facts about his ability and achievements.

It took time to work - but the following year he won the World Championship again. "He's a very emotional man," says Peters: "His emotions can get the better of him - but he's learnt over the years to start recognising what the trigger points are."

"I'm pretty good at switching off," says O'Sullivan. "There are so much more important things going on in my life, and other people's lives, that you should be able just to come and have some fun. That's the key really."

Yes: You can be the most talented player in the world, but if you do not have the right mindset you can make a mess of everything. O'Sullivan would not be champion now if it had not been for Peters' help.

No: Mental strength is important, but physical ability is what really counts. It is O'Sullivan's natural gift that makes him so formidable. Even on an off day, he could beat most other players.

Or... Every sports star needs a combination of both. Many athletic clubs, and schools, have the Latin phrase "mens sana in corpore sano" ("A healthy mind in a healthy body") as their motto.