Higgins aims to follow his namesake

ROSS Higgins has taken over top spot in the Scottish under-16 rankings after winning event-three at the Ambassadeur SC, Kirkcaldy.

World champion John Higgins, left, Ross Higgins and seven-time champion Stephen Hendry

The 15-year-old saw off reigning champion Michael Leslie, 14, in the semis and beat unseeded Axl Menlove 4-2 to win a first final of the season.

Higgins, from Cumbernauld, who finished fifth last season to qualify for the Scottish junior team, is coached by Scottish Snooker Chairman Stevie Baillie.

Perth’s Corey Blyth climbed to 12th after a fine run to the last four.

RESULTS:

LAST 32: Axl Menlove (Dumfries) bt Brian Gallagher (Glasgow) 3-0, Dylan Craig (Glasgow) w/o Declan Lilley (Glasgow), Grant Polley (Tillicoultry) bt Ryan Buchan (Portlethen) 3-0.LAST 16: Menlove bt Jamie Stewart (Dumfries) 3-2, Campbell Dunlop (Kilmarnock) bt Scott Donaldson (Perth) 3-2, Corey Blyth (Perth) bt James Young (Bellshill) 3-2, Shaun McDermott (Falkirk) bt Craig 3-1, Michael Leslie (Midlothian) bt John Coyle (Glasgow) 3-0, Ross Muir (Musselburgh) bt Ross McLean (Dunfermline) 3-0, Eden Sharav (Alloa) bt Scott Roarty (Midlothian) 3-1, Ross Higgins (Cumbernauld) bt Polley 3-1.

QUARTER-FINALS: Menlove bt Dunlop 3-1, Blyth bt McDermott 3-0, Leslie bt Muir 3-1, Higgins bt Sharav 3-0.

SEMI-FINALS: Menlove bt Blyth 3-1, Higgins bt Leslie 3-0.

FINAL: Higgins 4-2 Menlove.

Picture courtesy of Scottish Snooker Ltd