An emotional John Higgins produced a classic show to defeat fellow four-time world champion Mark Selby 10-8 in a compelling Tour Championship ultimate in Manchester.
The Scot dominated the early phases on Sunday to guide 5-1 however appeared on the ropes when Selby reeled off seven consecutive frames to carry an 8-5 benefit in a high-quality encounter.
Nonetheless, from there, Higgins who turns 50 subsequent month, exhibited his combating qualities, crafting breaks of 110, 67 and 84 as he edged again in entrance at 9-8.
Victory was sealed with a chic 132 clearance as Higgins collected the highest prize of £150,000 and his second rating title in as many months after a four-year drought.
“You’re enjoying a monster of a participant,” stated Higgins. “To be 5-1 up and to be frozen out to be 8-5 behind, you do not come again and win 5 in a row towards Mark Selby usually.
“I managed to do it, so it was unbelievable.
“It’s extremely troublesome. You’re simply hitting a brick wall and I’ve executed it so many occasions towards him over time.
“He simply performs unbelievable stuff. It was my finest ever win.”
It was a surprising efficiency from Higgins, who appeared shorn of confidence in a mid-match wobble when a rampant Selby scored 767 factors to his 66 throughout a seven-frame burst.
At that stage it regarded as if his solely comfort could be to maintain maintain of the £10,000 excessive break prize alongside a runner-up cheque of £60,000.
As an alternative, Higgins concluded the match with its eighth century to equal the document for a best-of-19 contest.
In doing so, he delivered an ominous warning that he merely can’t be discounted when the World Championship begins on 19 April.
Whereas no participant has received the Tour Championship and gone on to triumph on the Crucible in the identical season, Higgins will take some stopping if he can replicate this type.
