Higgins claims third world crown

By Mark Ashenden

John Higgins had few problems wrapping up a crushing 18-9 victory over Shaun Murphy to win his third World Championship in dominant style.

The Scot, 33, becomes the sixth player to win three or more titles in the modern era having won in 1998 and 2007.

Murphy rarely threatened after Higgins opened an overnight 11-5 lead and won Monday's third session 5-3.

Resuming 16-8 up, the 'Wizard of Wishaw' took little time to seal it, finishing with a cool break of 73.

Higgins said: "It is amazing. When I won it for the first time in 1998, it took so long to win it again. Now, a couple of years later, to win it again is brilliant."

Higgins' final break came to an end with just the colours and denied him the opportunity to claim victory with his 12th century of the tournament.

But he had done more than enough and is now the oldest Crucible champion since Dennis Taylor triumphed at the age of 36 in 1985 against Steve Davis, with Higgins turning 34 on 18 May.

Although the final may have been a largely disappointing occasion with the expected fireworks failing to arrive, it was the climax of what was a magnificent tournament.

There were a record-breaking 83 centuries - easily surpassing the previous target of 68 - and a number of young players, such as Jamie Cope and Mark Allen, really impressing on the sport's biggest stage.

The 33-year-old Scot's only major wobble in the final was during the match's opening session on Sunday when Murphy hit back with four in a row after Higgins had cruised to the first three frames.

There were brief signs then that the two 13-12 last-frame deciders against Cope and Mark Selby, and then the comeback by Allen in the semi-finals, may have taken its toll.

However, any doubts were blown away by the end of Sunday, with two breaks of 128, handing him a 11-5 overnight lead, leaving Murphy a mountain climb when they resumed on Monday.

Higgins added: "The second session made the difference really. Shaun missed a couple of balls he normally wouldn't miss and I just managed to get in there and pinch a couple of frames.

"I got a good run of the balls in that session and that is what swung it my way."

Murphy had chances in all sessions, unable to produce the long potting shown in earlier rounds, and although he showed great determination on Monday with a 91 and a 79, his gritty opponent, whose highest break in the afternoon was only 61, still managed to win five of the eight frames available.

No player had ever come back from 11-5 in a final to be champion at The Crucible, and although Murphy, champion in 2005, battled on, he rarely threatened again and only a brave and gutsy 59, bringing the scores to 17-9, delayed the inevitable.

Read in full at the BBC