Report
John Higgins has won his first world title
by beating Ken Doherty. He finished
off in style with a break of 118. The win takes
him to the top of the rankings!
Along the way he broke the record for most centuries in a tournament, with
14. He made four in the final alone. He shares the �19,000 high break prize with
Jimmy White. They both made a total clearance
of 143.
Higgins played brilliantly throughout, winning many frames in one visit. After the first session
he lead 6-1, but Doherty refused to lie down and fought back to 6-5. Higgins once again took
a commanding lead though, ending the second session 10-6 up. The defending champion struck back
again, and it was pretty tight at 13-11, going into the final session. Aided by two centuries
the Scot reigned supreme in the final frames though, and won the match 18-12.
The crucial point in the evening session came in frame 27 when Doherty, 15-11 down,
went in off after potting a frame-winning brown and allowed Higgins to clear up.
Doherty also had the misfortune to go in-off in frame 29.
However, Higgins was a deserved winner, even if 18-15 would have been a fairer
score.
Higgins, just 13 days short of his 23rd birthday, became the third youngest
champion, behind Stephen Hendry and
Alex Higgins.
Some quotes from the players:
JH, asked on what he was going to do over the next few days, "Get drunk!"
JH: "Thrilled to have beaten a great champion like Ken."
JH: "I know Ken put the trophy on top of his mum's television and I will do the same."
KD: "He's had a fantastic season and I hope he enjoys his year as champion as much
as I did."
JH: "It was very hard and when Ken came back to 13-11 I thought I had lost the
advantage. I just could not shake him off. But I got there in the end."
JH: "I think I have played my best ever snooker over these two weeks and it is a
dream come true to also get the no.1 spot."
KD: "John played fantastic snooker and is a worthy champion."
The Glasgow Celtic fanatic has a chance for a double celebration this weekend when
his favourite team should lift their first domestic championship in 10 years.
The first prize was �220,000 and Doherty received �132,000 as runner-up.
See The World Championship Page for news and articles
Thanks to Patrick McWilliams
([email protected]) for quotes
and comments.
