Higgins eyes more Crucible glory

Eurosport - Tue, 05 May 14:33:00 2009

John Higgins claimed he can achieve even more success at the Crucible after winning his third World Championship by beating Shaun Murphy 18-9 in the 2009 final.

!NOTxINxCHN! SNOOKER john higgins shaun murphy 2009 world championship final - 0

Higgins, 33, added to his previous victories in 1998 and 2007, and initially found it hard to put his feelings into words.

"I am over the moon. I don't know what to say," Higgins said. "When I won it for the first time in 1998, it took so long to win it again. Now, a couple of years later, to win it again is brilliant."

Reflecting on the match, Higgins said Sunday's second session - where he'd pulled away from 4-4 to an 11-5 overnight lead - had been decisive.

"The second session made the difference," he continued. "Shaun missed a couple he wouldn't normally miss. I got a good run of the balls in the second session and that is what swung it my way.

"The score doesn't tell the story of the match because there were maybe five or six frames that went to the colours and that's why I'm sitting here at 18-9 instead of being out there at 15-14."

Asked about his prospects of adding to his world title haul, Higgins replied: "If I've won two out of the last three there is no reason why I can't go on and win some more.

"I think I've got more titles left in me. Playing at that level, I could win maybe one or two more world titles.

"I think the next two or three years are going to be important years for me because that'll be when I'll have my best chances to win more titles."

Murphy, agreeing with Higgins's summary of the final, added: "I thought the match was good until we got to 5-5, that second session is where it went wrong for me.

"All credit to John, he is the best tactical player I have ever seen.

"It is a 17-day tournament, and the first 15 and a half days of it were fantastic for me. The last day and a half I am not so pleased with, but I can't let that ruin what has been a great season.

"It isn't nice losing here and I don't want to go through that again."

AFP

Comment 1 - 18 of 18

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. hey jack mcloughlin are you o'sullivan's press­ agent by any chance? or his manager? he played .he got­ beat. end of story. less of the feeble excuses.

    From kenny f, on Sat 16 May 7:21PM

  2. am i alone in cringinging at the mc "get the boys­ on the baize" , " the thunder from don under­ " the magician" does the guy sleep or lie­ awake thinking these up Jeez

    From smezatu2009, on Wed 6 May 6:12PM

  3. ronnie definitelt isn't too fragile mentally to win­ it again. He is far more comfortable in himself than­ when he won the previous 3 titles. Simply he did not­ play great against a lad who played the best snooker of­ his life and still he nearly pulled out a result.­ Ronnie will be back and will win next year if he brings­ his A or even B game with him.

    From Jack M, on Wed 6 May 2:33PM

  4. i am english and want to say well done,for winning the­ world champ, he is a nice guy and does not run down­ anyone,pity the other scot the arrogant murray t w a t­ cant be like him,then as the pole shows 89% of people­ from his own coutry want him to lose.he might make some­ fans.

    From jack, on Tue 5 May 9:51PM

  5. James Wattana from Thailand is the best.

    From Phanu, on Tue 5 May 6:37PM

  6. süper bir maçtı.higginsin kazanması­ iyi oldu

    From snooker_h, on Tue 5 May 5:57PM

  7. Well done john higgins,great to see a scot win again

    From KYLE, on Tue 5 May 5:18PM

  8. Congratulations

    From Airi, on Tue 5 May 4:36PM

  9. perfect tournament... brilliant snooker from a great­ worldchampion.. john well done.. i will see you many­ years with many titles

    From Ha, on Tue 5 May 2:16PM

  10. Ronnie is i think to fragile mentally to win again,­ look at those youngsters Selby Allen, Robertson and­ even Murphy is not yet an elderstatesman they are all­ very focused on the prize and it took the iron will and­ good tactical play of Higgins to beat then in some­ very close matches I think if Murphy can keep up his­ rythum in even some of the minor competitions comming­ into the worlds next year he may fair better but as was­ stated last night it can be a ball missed here or an­ angle that does not quite come off or even a kick that­ ends badly that can make the diffrence in a close match­ of which we have seen pleanty this year
    The second­ session won it for john but he is like a dog with a­ bone and would not surrender any of his lead good luck­ to him he is like Murphy made of stern stuff

    From Alex F, on Tue 5 May 1:51PM

  11. donneysbeck the INTERBREED

    From JEEMS, on Tue 5 May 12:41PM

  12. This will ambition Ronnie to win another one next­ year:)))) GO ROCKET!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From Luke, on Tue 5 May 11:59AM

  13. What a credit to snooker S.Murphy is.
    Oh so graceful,in­ defeat,& full of praise for his opponent,(another­ Gent,i might add)
    Such a pity that alot of other.....SO­ CALLED sports men.Could not follow his lead.Best of­ Luck for the future Shaun.you more than deserve­ it,& you are a great player too.
    James Harkin

    From harkinsinturkey, on Tue 5 May 11:36AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    SHONE MARFAY WAS DANE AN BY A WEMON THOTS WAT HOPPANED.­ HES GOAN THRAY A MERAGE BRACK OPP AT THA MANUT.

    From donneysbeck, on Tue 5 May 11:15AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    RANNIE WIL FANASH HES CAREER WATH 4 OND HIGGANS WIL GET­ 5.

    From donneysbeck, on Tue 5 May 11:14AM

  16. Poor Shaun! I could tell he wanted it so bad! Hope he­ wins next year!

    From eminem1girl, on Tue 5 May 10:35AM

  17. he is the best.everything must say this...now time is­ from portugal.see you there...

    From facet, on Tue 5 May 9:55AM

  18. Dont panic, friend, do it better for next year

    From T, on Tue 5 May 12:22AM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account