Higgins claims Welsh crown

Carter fightback quickly snuffed out

Last updated: 31st January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Higgins claims Welsh crown

Higgins: second Welsh Open title

That's the best I have ever felt to be honest, I didn't know what was going on. I was zoned-in and I am delighted with how I played.

John Higgins
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World champion John Higgins cruised to his second totesport.com Welsh Open title with a 9-4 victory over defending champion Ali Carter.

The Scot led 6-2 going into the evening session in Newport and quickly closed out the match.

Higgins went 7-2 ahead thanks to a break of 72, putting him within two frames of victory.

But Essex potter Carter fought back bravely with a break of 60 to reduce the deficit before winning an astonishing 11th frame.

Higgins opened with a break of 72, missing a tough frame ball after potting nine reds and nine blacks and concentrating on a possible 147 maximum, only for Carter to complete a clearance of 73 to clinch the frame and make it 7-4.

But Higgins rapidly snuffed out any glimpse of a fightback as he took the next frame with a break of 40.

Carter hit back with 36, but Higgins came through a tense safety battle to move to within one frame of the title.

Zoned-in

Higgins secured his victory with a break of 76 in the 13th and final frame. The 34-year-old said: "That's the best I have ever felt to be honest, I didn't know what was going on.

"I was zoned-in and I am delighted with how I played. But I also got a bit of luck, there were a lot of little rubs of the green that snooker players can see that went my way. Ali also had a few bad kicks."

Higgins hopes his success in Wales can help his World title defence later in the year. He said: "That's what we're building towards, and this will give me confidence and I am looking forward to it."

Carter added: "I was under all sorts of pressure and I was just glad to make a game of it.

"I would have been glad to get back to 7-5, but he's done me 9-4 in the end. The crowd have been great this week and I am disappointed I couldn't keep my title, but I had a good go."

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