In the 1993–94 season, O'Sullivan enjoyed more success by first qualifying for the Masters as a wild card by winning the 1993 Benson and Hedges Snooker Championship by defeating John Lardner 9–6 in the final. Then O'Sullivan captured his first professional ranking title and first part of the Triple Crown, the UK Championship by defeating Stephen Hendry 10–6 in the final. At the age of 17 years and 358 days he became the youngest ever winner of a ranking tournament. One month later, in the European Open final, he came across Stephen Hendry again but this time, he was defeated by 5–9. Making his debut at the Masters, he lost in the first round 1–5 to Dennis Taylor, who was the Masters champion in 1987, by defeating Alex Higgins 9–8 in the final. He won his second ranking title of the season at the British Open by defeating James Wattana 9–4 in the final. He reached the second round of the World Championship, but lost 3–13 against John Parrott. Having started the season ranked number 57 in the world, he ended it ranked number 9, and was named the WPBSA's Player of the Year for 1994.