‘WARRIOR’ HIGGINS EYES FIFTH CROWN

JOHN HIGGINS won a dramatic final-frame decider to keep alive his quest for a fifth World Championship crown.

The battling Scot demonstrated his nerves of steel from 13-11 and 16-15 down to beat surprise-package David Gilbert 17-16 in a thrilling semi-final in Sheffield yesterday.

“I’m elated,” said an emotional Higgins. “I don’t know how I’ve won that. I was really bad in the first three sessions, but luckily my form came out in the final session when it mattered.

“You can’t win playing great snooker all the time, but that’s unbelievable getting into the final.”

Victory in the bestof-35 frame showcase final which starts today would go a long way towards making up for the heartache of losing two world finals in a row, with Higgins having threatened to retire earlier this season.

Last season the fourtime world champion slipped to an agonising 18-16 final defeat to Welshman Mark Williams and the previous year was edged 18-15 by England’s Mark Selby.

Higgins has a great opportunity to make it third time lucky as he attempts to equal archrival Ronnie O’Sullivan’s five Crucible crowns.

Higgins resumed 13-11 down to Gilbert yesterday – and soon trailed by three frames. But as he has so often managed in his glittering career, he battled back, and won four frames on the bounce.

“He’s such a warrior,” reflected Gilbert who also broke down in tears after his heartbreaking defeat.

“It stings and this might be the closest I’ll ever come to winning the world title, but I’m definitely off to Ibiza now. It’s time for a beer!”

Higgins, 43, will face Judd Trump, 29, who beat impressive qualifier Gary Wilson, a former part-time cabbie, 17-11 in the other semi-final. Trump said: “I was just trying to take each ball one at a time.”

Wilson admitted: “I wasn’t good enough over the past few days.”

WATCH ME NOW: Higgins makes final as Gilbert looks on