The final got off to a promising start in the afternoon: the first four frames flew by. Neil Robertson played a 76, 108, and 81, while O'Sullivan got off to a stuttering start after yesterday's insane day. He at least managed a 92 break in frame two.
To the match centre: O'Sullivan vs. Robertson
O'Sullivan came back well after the break with a 67, but lost the final three frames of the session against a tactically strong Robertson and thus trailed 2-6.
O'Sullivan with a spectacular comeback
When Robertson started the evening with a 97 in the second session, the 49-year-old realised the seriousness of the situation and struck back in classic O'Sullivan style.
With breaks of 137, 97, 89, 57, and 80 points, he won five frames in a row and levelled the 2-7 deficit in no time at all. The Australian only managed two points between frames 10 and 13.
He responded with a nervy 75, but O'Sullivan was unstoppable.
In a 38-minute thriller, "The Rocket" snatched the important 16th frame to equalise again, after which he took the lead for the first time thanks to a frame-deciding 64 break.
Robertson shows nerves of steel
But the final was not over yet - quite the opposite. After O'Sullivan failed to follow up a split, Robertson managed a 101 century break shortly afterwards to force a decider.
O'Sullivan had the better start in the deciding frame, initially taking a 35:0 lead thanks to strong safeties, before opting for a controlled exit after another unsuccessful split.
Robertson got his chance a little later after a safety battle and capitalised on it spectacularly. The Australian turned the deficit around thanks to a 91 break, making him the second winner of the prestigious tournament in Saudi Arabia after Judd Trump last year.
He holed the key ball on the last red, when he actually missed the position. Robertson corrected his mistake with a long red on the green corner pocket.
Robertson thus moves up to third place in the first world ranking tournament of the new season and takes home a cheque for 500,000 pounds.