Ken Doherty won his first title in nearly a year after a runaway victory in the final of the Regal Welsh Open title at the Cardiff International Arena.

The 31-year-old Irishman secured his fourth ranking event success by beating Paul Hunter 9-2.

He last triumphed at the Rothmans Malta Grand Prix in February 2000.

"The most important thing for me is to be a winner again," said Doherty who knocked out Stephen Hendry, the seven-times world champion, and current world champion Mark Williams on the way to the final.

"Beating Stephen was a real boost, I pinched a few frames out there, scored quite heavily and I'm back on the rostrum. I couldn't be happier."

Comeback kid

It was Doherty's first world ranking event win on British soil since he ended Hendry's 29-match unbeaten record in the final of the 1997 Embassy World Championship.

Hunter started brightly twice pulling back after losing the first and third frames.

But Doherty then went on a seven frame run, taking the final three in an evening session that lasted just 48 minutes.

Hunter offered no excuses for such a heavy defeat.

"I missed too many easy balls, it was as simple as that," said the 22-year-old from Leeds.

"Things just wouldn't go my way and I didn't cue as well as I've been doing.

"The turning point was the fifth frame. I should've won it but it slipped away and after that I didn't get into the match.

"Ken didn't play his best but he was solid enough to beat me. Its all part of the learning experience."