John Higgins done well to even make the final.  After beating Michael Holt in the first round 10-5, he had two very close encounters with Jamie Cope and then Mark Selby to reach the semi-final.  Both matches were decided by the final frames.

It was then the turn of Mark Allen, who had beaten the favourite Ronnie O’Sullivan in the second round.  After a good start Higgins set up a very comfortable 13-3 lead but had to show nerves of steel, as Allen fought back.  Higgins eventually won 17-13.

So, if John Higgins had no resilience left for the final, it would have been understandable.  But alas, Higgins played a well measured game and took his chances when they fell to him.  The 18-9 scoreline makes it sound easier than it was.  Shaun Mahoney pushed Higgins all the way

This World Snooker Championship victory means John Higgins equals Ronnie O’Sullivan and the late John Spencer with three world titles to his name.  But considering Higgins is at the peak of his game and still only 33 years old, he certainly has time to catch Steve Davis and Ray Reardon (each with six titles) and fellow Scotsman, Stephen Hendry, who holds the record with seven World Championship titles.

Before this year’s World Championship began at The Crucible, Ronnie O’Sullivan said only John Higgins or himself could win the title.  How right he was!