SHEFFIELD:
Scotland’s John Higgins won the Snooker World Championship for the fourth time beating England’s new star Judd Trump 18-15 in the best of 35 frames final.
It capped a traumatic year for 35-year-old Higgins as this time last year he was provisionally suspended over match-fixing allegations of which he was later absolved and then his father died in February.
“It’s an unbelievable moment to win it again,” said Higgins, who is known as the ‘Wishaw Wizard’.
Higgins heaped praise on Trump, saying he had played the better snooker overall, but the unassuming Englishman did not see it that way returning the compliment.
“I’ve come here not expecting to do that well, so to get to the final is a good achievement,” said Trump.
“Obviously I’d have liked to have won but Higgins was the better player on the day, he played the better snooker over the two days and was the deserving winner.”
Higgins looked to be in trouble when Trump built on his overnight 10-7 advantage to lead 12-9 and looked like making it a four-frame gap when he made a rare potting error.
However, the burly Scot not only took that frame but the next four to boot to hold a 14-12 lead.
However, Trump also fought back and levelled at 14-14 and hung in there to trail 16-15.
Higgins, though, rattled off the two frames required to add this trophy to the ones he won in 1998, 2007 and 2009.
Higgins, who took home a cheque for £250,000, will have his sights on the all-time record of seven crowns held by compatriot Stephen Hendry.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2011.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ