Higgins wins World Open for first title in four years

With a 10-6 victory over Joe O’Connor in the World Open final, John Higgins won his first title in four years.

Scotland’s four-time world champion, who won the ranking contest for the 32nd time in his career, took a 6-2 lead in Yushan, China, at the interval.

He signed off in style with a century break in the final frame, making his debut as the oldest ranking-event finalist since 1986 at age 49.

After defeating Ronnie O’Sullivan’s record of reaching the 146 ranking-event quarter-finals, Higgins had gone from 5-3 to beat Zak Surety 6-5 in the semi-finals.

At the Players Championship in 2021, he won his final title.

Ali Carter, Judd Trump, and Shaun Murphy were among the stars who defeated world number 39 O’Connor in the final match of his remarkable run to reach only his second ranking final.