MARTYN DESPERQUES successfully defended his Individual Snooker League title with an absorbing 5-3 win over great rival Adam Shorto.

Played at the same venue as their Island Championship final meeting a month ago, a smaller North Legion crowd than at the showpiece event witnessed some sparkling break building and excellent safety play from both players.

A top notch final looked on the cards from the first frame when Shorto came out of the blocks faster to win it in just 12 minutes with breaks of 32 and a sparkling 66.

But despite a top break of only nine, Desperques (pictured) somehow managed to get back on terms in the scrappiest frame of the night and then forged ahead with some of his best snooker.

A wonderful break of 72 had already made the third frame safe and with Desperques yet to get a century this season, another chance went begging having run out of position after the 11th red.