JOHN Higgins is just one win away from adding a “career-capping” Coral Scottish Open to his glistening trophy cabinet after one of the greatest comebacks in his esteemed professional career saw him battle from 5-1 down to beat Judd Trump.
The Wizard of Wishaw was left stunned as Trump raced into a four-frame advantage in Glasgow, a deficit Higgins felt was not going to be breached, before he turned the tables to prevail 6-5 in yesterday’s semi-final.
Trump’s electric potting made that look almost impossible early on, with three century breaks and a 99 opening up a game worth waiting for in Scotland’s first tournament since 2010.
But Higgins showed the resolve that has made him a four-time world champion, pulling off his own remarkable style, with breaks of 110, 52 and 52 clawing him back to parity at 5-5.
But with nerves playing their part, both players had chances in the deciding frame, Higgins holding his composure to set up a final meeting with Marco Fu, who later raced to a 6-1 victory over Yu Delu, for the Stephen Hendry Trophy.
“I can’t believe it, especially with the way Judd was playing, I thought there was no chance, he was playing too well,” the Scot said. “I was still in a daze long after that game finished.
“Deep down you think there’s not much chance. I thought I’d lost, but with my friends and family watching in Scotland I was never going to throw in the towel.
“But to win this would be something out of my wildest dreams. Stephen was a big hero of mine when I turned professional and I had the chance to practise with him. So to have his trophy is the sort of thing that caps off your career.”
Despite not being at his best until the semi-finals in Glasgow, Trump opened the match in un- believable fashion, making 132 in his first visit to the table.
His form continued, with sensational long efforts taking his potting success to 97 per cent and another century to go 3-1 ahead at the mid-session interval.
Any hopes of a Trump slowdown were thwarted when Higgins was denied a pot for 24 minutes, the rhythm of the Englishman a remarkable sight to behold with breaks of 99 and 112.
And at 5-1, even Higgins admitted hope was dwindling, stumbling his way into the seventh – and potentially final – frame, making 110 in one visit to keep fighting.
That seemed to spur on the world No 3, and it was his turn to keep Trump off the table for more than 30 minutes and limiting him to six points in four frames.
In a match containing 11 50-plus breaks in 11 frames, momentum shifted to the Scot at 5-5, with a magnificent red into the yellow- corner pocket proving the difference in making 68. Higgins feels his early semi-final could prove beneficial come today’s showdown – with a Christmas film or two occupying his preparation.
“You don’t get to play in Scotland much, it’s an unbelievable feeling being here,” he said. “It always seems to happen that Judd and I have some amazing games. I’m lucky to be at the right end of that, but in the next couple of years when he comes back I’ll be hanging on.
“I thought I’d thrown it away in the last frame with some bad positioning, but luckily I cued well and played some good shots.
“If you win that sort of match in the night session then you may struggle to sleep, but I’ll have rested up and will be okay for the game.”
Watch the Scottish Open LIVE on Eurosport 1 and Quest, featuring daily studio analysis from Ronnie O’Sullivan, Jimmy White and Neal Foulds
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