DARREN Morgan once again showed that age is no barrier to success as he defended his world masters title with a 6-0 thrashing of Afghanistan’s Saleh Mohammadi in Myanmar.

The 52-year-old from Newbridge lost just six frames in seven matches before firing breaks of 77, 53, 51 and 44 in a one-sided final against an opponent five years his junior.

Victory for the Welshman gave him a fifth masters crown in all and a 10th world title altogether at amateur level – he also has 19 European triumphs to his name.

“It was extremely pleasing to get my own back on Phisit Chandsri of Thailand in the quarter-finals as he beat me in the 2014 championships in Bangalore.

“I beat Li Jian Bing of China 5-2 in the semi-finals and then was quite comfortable in the final against Saleh Mohammadi.

“It was a bit more one-sided than I thought it was going to be. I expected a really tough match.”

Morgan is now looking forward to the world team championships and world six reds championships – he has won the latter for the last two years – in Egypt.

“I’m 52 now and no spring chicken, and every time you go to one of these tournaments you think it could be your last,” he added.

“A lot of the players in the masters events have just dropped off the pro tour and around 40, so I’m giving some of them 12 years.

“You never know when you’re going to win again so when you do it’s extra special.

“The field in Myanmar was very strong with some of the guys playing extremely well, and I thought if I didn’t improve markedly I wasn’t going to win it this year.

“I went into it playing okay, not great, so to win it as comfortably as I did was a bit of a surprise.

“I was having spasms when I was playing as well, I struggled a lot in my semi-final, and on the first day I found I had two left shoes.

“The hotel manager found a pair that fitted but I went to the opening ceremony in full dress but wearing a pair of sandals!

“Also, before I went I had a tooth out, it had snapped and the root was left in. I was in pain for about five or six days and was ready to come home.

“I got the pain under control with painkillers and I’m obviously glad I stuck it out.”