Proud Higgins holds off Selby at Crucible

JOHN HIGGINS today revealed his pride at holding his nerve in the face of a magnificent Mark Selby fightback to win his second 888.com Snooker World Championship title.

Wishaw player Higgins led 12-4 overnight only for qualifier Selby to bring the match back into the balance by reducing the deficit to 14-13 in the best-of-35 showdown at Sheffield's Crucible.

But Higgins responded by playing superb snooker in the next four frames to register an 18-13 success and claim the £220,000 first prize.

It completed a memorable 48 hours for the Scot, who has regained his coveted No.1 spot in the world rankings for the 2007-08 campaign.

Higgins said: "It was an unbelievable feeling when under extreme pressure and I could pull out my best stuff. I was very proud the way I did that.

"I don't know where I pulled those four frames out from in the end. I felt so calm and was hitting the ball amazingly at the end.

"It was a big frame for me to clear up and make it 16-13. If it had got to 15-14, it could have gone a lot further. But to win that frame gave me a massive lift and I managed to close it out in the last two frames.

"I was thinking back to the final with Ken Doherty and I was absolutely gone in the third session of that as well. It was a carbon copy this time.

"I was so delighted we got pulled off at 12-10 to give us a break before the evening session because I was still two frames in front.

"If we had stayed on, Mark would have definitely made it 12-12 because I was gone at that stage."

Selby believes the semi-final marathon with Shaun Murphy which went to the deciding frame took its toll on him on the opening day but he is pleased with his overall efforts.

He said: "The first day was fatigue more than anything. I was tired from the day before.

"John played really well on the first day. I had my chances at the start of the first two sessions and just didn't manage to take them.

"He put me under pressure. I was lot fresher last night. At 14-13 I thought I was in with a chance. I could just never get level.

"I thought if I managed that, John might miss a few more balls than he did but he stuck in there and kept pinching frames to go two clear all the time.

"Overall, I am really proud of myself. I am in the top 16 and have got to the world final. Things can't get much better than that."