HIGGO’S THIRD TIMEUNLUCKY
JOHN HIGGINS suffered a third final defeat in a row as Judd Trump pocketed a maiden Champion of Champions title last night.
The Scot was desperate to make it third time lucky after losing in the recent Northern Ireland Open and English Open finals.
But world No.2 Trump, who hammered Higgins 18-9 in the 2019 World Championship final, inflicted more heartache with a brutal 10-4 win.
Higgins, 46, showed no fatigue from his postmidnight semi-final finish as he raced 3-0 ahead in Bolton– but won just one of the last 11 frames.
The 2016 champion, who has lost eight of his last nine showpieces, said: “I’ve lost three finals on the trot. It’s not a great feeling.
“I can hold my hands up and say I’ve lost to three unbelievable champions. Judd was awesome.
“If I’m being hyper critical I missed a couple of chances you have to capitalise on against someone like Judd. I went walkabout for about three or four frames in the afternoon. He just blitzed me tonight. He was far too good.”
The Juddernaught had never before beaten Higgins in a match longer than nine frames until his famous Crucible triumph. He’s won all nine meetings between the pair since.
Higgins opened up a commanding three-frame cushion with a top break of 73. But Trump turned the tide with a five-frame burst including runs of 63, 62 and 61, to lead 5-3.
Higgins won the last frame of the session with a break of 70 to go just one frame adrift.
But Trump put away misfiring Higgins with visits of 74, 51, 68 and 59.
Trump said: “It’s an amazing feeling to get this one under my belt. Any win against John is special, he’s someone I admired growing up.”