JOHN Higgins wrote another chapter in his remarkable success story at
Plymouth last night. The 19-year-old Scot captured his third major title
of the season with a 9-6 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan in the #325,000
Castella British Open.
Higgins, winner of the Skoda Grand Prix and the International Open,
banked a first prize of #60,000 to carry his season's earnings to
#271,000.
That leaves him second in the money list behind Stephen Hendry -- but
he is No.1 in ranking points this season.
''I scored well when I got in and that was what won me the match,''
said Higgins, who is now second favourite behind his fellow Scot for the
world championship, which begins in Sheffield on Friday.
''What has happened to me over the last few months is beyond my
wildest dreams. It's all down to self-confidence now, because I know I
can compete against anyone. I know now that I'm good, I don't need
anyone telling me.''
Higgins began nervously as his rival raced 2-0 ahead with breaks of 76
and 117. But Higgins then reeled off runs of 55, 42, 119, 62, and 79 to
grab five of the following six frames.
The Scot piled on the pressure last night with a 65 break and then the
highlight of the match -- a 132 total clearance -- in the tenth for a
7-3 lead.
O'Sullivan, the title-holder, fought back to 5-7 before the thirteenth
frame proved unlucky for him when he went in-off as he tried to escape a
snooker. He rallied briefly with a 73 but when he missed an easy red in
the fifteenth, Higgins pounced with a run of 42.
O'Sullivan paid tribute to his opponent, saying: ''John's got a great
all-round game. The difference between us today was his safety game. I
gave him a lot more opportunities than he gave me.''
But he was adamant about the favourite for the world title: ''John is
obviously on top form but I have to say that in my book Stephen Hendry
remains the one we all have to beat.''
The #2400 highest-break prize was claimed by Hendry with a 145 total
clearance in his 5-3 second-round win over Rutherglen's Drew Henry.
* FORMER winner Jimmy Allan reached the last 16 of the Scottish
Amateur Championship last night at the Masters Club, Glasgow, when he
beat Stuart Maxwell 4-1 and then Jimmy McAllister 4-0. Last year's
beaten finalist, Rab Ritchie of Kirkcaldy, defeated Steve Halleran 4-3,
and Paul Harkness 4-1.
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