Higgins Stays On Course
John Higgins remained on course to end a year to forget on a high as he defeated Mark Allen by nine-frames-to-five and book a place in Sunday’s final of the 12Bet.com UK Championship in Telford.
Twelve months ago, Higgins was a beaten finalist in the sport’s second biggest tournament.
Since then, his father was diagnosed with cancer, he has faced match fixing allegations by the News of The World and suspended from the game for six months.
His return to action last month saw him win the Euro Players Tour Championship in Germany and vow to win the UK “for his Dad”.
He began his campaign with centuries in the opening two frames of his first match against Stephen Lee and after following with wins against Graeme Dott, Stephen Maguire and Allen he is just one match from fulfilling the promise.
After sharing the first eight frames, the Scot took the first two frames in the night anda lead 6-4 before Allen edged to within one again at 6-5.
The “Wizard” then turned on the style to close out the match with breaks of 63,72 and 100 allowing the Antrim man just 13 more points.
If he lifts the title, it will complete an amazing turn around for a player who many had thought may have potted his last ball as a professional when the story broke in May, as he will regain his place at the top of the world rankings from Neil Robertson.
Higgins always professed his innocence and was cleared by an independent ruling in September of the more serious allegations but was punished for bringing the game into disrepute.
Some of the top players have indicated that there would always be an element of doubt n some people’s minds when John loses matches or missed balls, and John seems to have found the perfect way of answering those critics…don’t lose!
