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Australia's Neil Robertson became the first player from outside the British Isles since 1980 to win the world snooker championship when he sealed victory over Graeme Dott in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Resuming the evening session with a 12-10 lead, Robertson went on to beat former champion Dott 18-13 at the Crucible Theatre to claim the title and a cheque for 250,000 pounds ($381,000).
"It's an amazing feeling to be world champion after a Titanic struggle of a match," a relieved Robertson told reporters.
"The pressure before the final and during the final was absolutely unbelievable because there's so much at stake."
However, the final showdown was somewhat overshadowed by the match-fixing allegations surrounding last year's champion John Higgins, which surfaced just hours before the contest got underway.
Giving his reaction to the story which has rocked the sport to its core, Robertson said: "It took me by absolute surprise, but I don't really know enough about it to comment about it."
Robertson gave his backing to new World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association chairman Barry Hearn, who reacted swiftly to the scandal by suspending Higgins and launching an investigation into the matter.
"I couldn't be more happy with Barry's reaction so far. He is a million per cent the man to take the game forward," Robertson added.
The title is part of a double celebration for the 28-year-old as his partner is due to give birth to their first child.
Higgins has vowed to clear his name but faces a future away from the glare of snooker's spotlight if the allegations are proven with fans quick to condemn the Scot's behaviour.
"I think he should never play the game again if it is true that he was ready to throw matches," said Mark Hamilton from Glasgow, Scotland.
"I'm pretty sure that he will be found not guilty, but if he is guilty he should be banned for life," Liverpudlian Phil Sheldrake added.
Canada's Cliff Thorborn was the last player from outside the British Isles to capture the world title thirty years ago while Robertson became the second Australian to lift the title after Horace Lindrum's contentious victory in 1952.
($1 = 0.655 pounds)
(Editing by John O'Brien; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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