News

Higgins is Guangzhou King

John Higgins beat Stuart Bingham 10-7 in the final of the new Evergrande China Championship to bank £200,000, snooker’s biggest ever first prize for a tournament outside the UK.

Scotland’s 41-year-old Higgins won his first title since last year’s International Championship, and while this invitation title does not count towards his tally of 28 ranking crowns, it’s still his biggest pay-day since capturing his fourth world title in 2011.

The world number six from Wishaw won four matches at this invitation event in Guangzhou, culminating in a superb display in a high quality final against Bingham which featured five centuries and nine more breaks over 50 in the 17 frames.

The contest started slowly, Higgins getting the better of the first three scrappy frames, before Bingham stormed back with runs of 102, 112 and 52 to make it 3-3. Higgins regained the lead in frame seven then made a trademark clearance of 65 to go 5-3 up, before two breaks of 50 from Bingham saw him trail by just one frame at the end of the first session.

Basildon’s Bingham, who was seeking his first title since winning the World Championship 18 months ago, won the opening frame of the evening session then made a break of 98 in the next to lead for the first time at 6-5. Higgins responded with 56 and 65 to win the next two, before Bingham’s 8-4 left the match in the balance at 7-7.

But Higgins once again underlined his status as one of snooker’s all-time greats with a stunning finish, firing runs of 134, 100 and 101 to cross the winning post.

For the next three years, the Evergrande China Championship will be a world ranking event, contested by 128 players. Total prize money for the 2017 edition will be £700,000 with the winner’s cheque at £150,000.