John Higgins wins the 12BET.com UK championship 2010
The wizard of Wishaw John Higgins raises the 12BET.com UK championship trophy, after an astounding 10-9 victory over Mark Williams. Higgins labelled his victory as the greatest moments of his career. Higgins was 9-5 down when he stunningly fought back and
proved his class, refraining Mark to carry on with the lead in 14th frame, winning last five frames consecutively afterwards.
Higgins has regained the top spot in international rankings after winning UK championship for the third time in his career. He is now fourth only player after Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, and Ronnie O’Sullivan to have won second biggest ranking tournament
more than twice.
The 35-year-old Scot has put a great show at Telford. Mark was playing in a glistening manner, leading the match 9-5 and not giving any room to Higgins. It was the crucial eighteenth frame which decided the fate of the contest, with a break of 61 Mark was
looking to control things perfectly on the table but it was Higgins who fought back miraculously and finished the frame in an inspiring and astonishing manner.
John Higgins was taking part in the first tournament after the six-month ban being uplifted. He has been able to claim the titles by proving once again that he is a top seed with class, composure and winning intentions.
Now world number 1, the Scottish cueist has dedicated his win to his ill father John senior and family. “I just tried to concentrate more and stay focused all the time, determined not to stop winning and let anything come in my way, when Mark could have
stopped me from his mind-jolting performance but I am really proud today”, said Higgins after strengthening the top spot.
John Higgins - Passage to the victory
With back-to-back two centuries in the first two frames of the very first match of tournament against Stephen Lee, Higgins gave a positive signal to his fans all over the world about his intentions. It was a 9-6 victory which took Higgins to the next round
of the tournament.
In the last-16 round Higgins had a fighting match with his fellow compatriot Graeme Dott. The outcome of the match was in favour of John, clearing up a very close 8-9 victory. At one point in the match Dott was 8-7 up, but it was John who absorbed the pressure
and won last two frames in a fascinating manner.
It was quite a similar situation in the quarter final against Stephen Maguire, who was leading the match by two frames, the score was levelled 5-5 before the mid-session. In the evening session it was John Higgins all over the table who never looked back
and dragged the match all the way to an amazing 9-7 win.
Higgins took on world number 11 Mark Allen in the semi final of the championship, the score-line of the match was 4-4 after the first session, later in the evening session Higgins nailed Allen and cruised his way to the finals after a smooth 9-5 victory.
One can conclude and come to know the fact that John Higgins has been tested at every step of the tournament and indeed emerged as a man of composure, steely nerves, and loads of talent.
The final - Mark Williams v/s John Higgins
The last match of the tournament was epic and the most crunching and breathtaking one. The score-line was devastating for John Higgins as he was four frames down at the start of evening session. Williams was into the driving seat and looked determined to
grab the titles. 7-2 down the bruised John Higgins came back in strong with breaks of 90, 94 and a classic century of 105 to pull the match and bring the score-line to the 8-5.
Higgins was on his verge to win the next frame but he missed the easy pink giving chance to Williams for another clean sweep. Until now in the match Higgins was continuously struggling and making fight backs, bringing the scores 9-7 Higgins settled into
a position where he looked to have sensed the victory.
In the best-of-nineteen frames final, frame number-18 was the most crucial as Williams had a lead of 61 before he missed an easy up-close red. Higgins took charge of the match from there and all of a sudden destiny seemed to be on his side, as he cleared
the frame with the final break of 52 making the score-line 9-9.
Higgins totally owned the final frame of the match and did not give any room to the shocked Williams. Higgins was 20 points ahead of Williams in the final stage of the frame, it was the moment when he pot the blue ball in the long corner after a cheesy brown
and punched the air in excitement and glory.
Only the nerves as strong as Mark’s could take and absorb such a catastrophic defeat. The 35-year-old cueist was also fighting for the third UK title but after losing a close encounter he can comfort himself with a £46,000 prize and a promotion to the third
spot in world rankings.
Pocketing a cheque worth £100,000 and grabbing the top spot and UK titles, Higgins is believed to be the most consistent and competitive snooker player today.
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