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| January 24, 2006 | Tuesday | Zilhaj 23, 1426 |
Masters title for Higgins
LONDON, Jan 23: Scotland’s John Higgins hit back from a 3-0 deficit to edge a last-frame 10-9 win over title-holder and world No1 Ronnie O’Sullivan in the final of the Masters on Sunday.
It was the second win in this prestigious event for Higgins seven years after he defeated Dubliner Ken Doherty and it enacted revenge for the 3-10 thumping he received from O’Sullivan in last year’s final.
The match between two former world champions was on a knife-edge as Higgins steadied himself after tamely conceding the first three frames.
The Scot won five games in a row to take control and despite O’Sullivan three-times hitting back to level (5-5, 7-7 and 8-8), and having led 9-8, it was Higgins who held his nerve to halt the Rocket’s charge for successive titles.
The final frame saw O’Sullivan pot a superb 60 break, which stemmed from a brilliant long red.
Higgins had a chance to get back in, missed a red, and O’Sullivan could have cleared.
But the match went the distance and Higgins held his nerve with a wonderful 64 clearance, winning on the black ball.—AFP
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