HEART-BREC FOR HIGGINS AFTER FOURTH FINAL LOSS

LUCA BRECEL piled yet more final misery on John Higgins by winning the Scottish Open last night.

The Belgian enjoyed just a second ranking tournament success with a 9-5 victory over his illustrious opponent in the event’s temporary home of Llandudno.

It was a sweet moment for world No.18 Brecel (inset), who only a week before had lost the UK Championship final to Chinese sensation Zhao Xintong in York.

He got to lift the Stephen Hendry trophy, pocket the £70,000 first prize and will be the No.2 seed at this week’s World Grand Prix for the top ■ by HECTOR NUNNS 32 performers this season.

Brecel said: “It’s an amazing feeling and I feel very proud.

“To beat John in the final was a dream. I was just happy to get over the line in the end.”

Agonisingly for four-time world champion Higgins, he has now lost all four finals he has contested this season.

The Scot’s great rival Ronnie O’Sullivan lost all five of his last season.

Despite being the most consistent player of the campaign, 46-year-old Higgins, who won the last of his two Scottish Opens in 1996, remains without any silverware.

He lost the Northern Ireland and English Open finals both 9-8 after leading 8-6 to Mark Allen and Neil Robertson respectively – and then was thumped by Judd Trump in the Champion of Champions.

As well as being a fourth final defeat in just eight weeks, Higgins could have set a record for the longest time between first and most recent ranking wins at 27 years.

Higgins said: “He was just too good. I felt so good but Luca was attacking the balls and put me on the back foot.

“It was a pleasure watching him – he’s a real talent.”