SNOOKER STAR JOHN Higgins came from behind to win a last-frame decider and book his place in this year’s World Championship final with a 17-16 victory over David Gilbert on Saturday.
Four-time world champion Higgins, 10-6 behind at one stage in this semi-final, made it 16-16 with a total clearance break of 139 at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.
And the 43-year-old Scot then seized his chance when Gilbert missed a black in the deciding frame to complete victory with a break of 55.
This win was in marked contrast to Higgins’ second-round defeat at the UK Championships late last year that left him contemplating retirement.
“I was at a low ebb around Christmas — probably the lowest ebb I’ve ever been in playing the game,” Higgins said after his tense win.
“I can’t really explain to be honest. I apologised to Dave — I told him I brought him down to my level in the first three sessions.
“I was really poor and I think Dave really let me off the hook. I was over the moon to be only 13-11 (on Friday night). I was feeling good but nothing was happening.”
Gilbert extended his lead with a break of 105 in Saturday’s opening frame.
But Higgins then won four in a row to lead for the first time since the fifth frame at 15-14.
Gilbert, admirably, levelled at 15-15 with a break of 78 before moving to within a frame of victory following a safety exchange.
The knowledge he’d twice blown a five-frame lead seemed to overwhelm the unheralded Englishman at his post-match press conference, with Gilbert breaking down in tears.
“I’m absolutely gutted to lose,” he said. “I could have got to a world final but I’ve got nothing to feel sad about. I came here with no expectations and to end up on the one table against a legend like John, it was an honour.”
Meanwhile Judd Trump, looking to reach his second world final after losing to Higgins in the 2011 showpiece match, moved into a 14-10 lead against qualifier Gary Wilson.
He went 12-8 up with a break of 114 — the 87th century of the tournament surpassing the previous Crucible record set in both 2015 and 2016.
Trump, 9-7 ahead overnight, now needs just three more frames when his match against Wilson is played to a finish later Saturday.
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