By Elliott West
“I am going to have to play at the top of my game”.
John Higgins
Introduction
Luca Brecel managed to overcome a subdued Judd Trump to reach the semi-finals of the Cazoo Tour Championship but could he could go one better and reach the final by beating a resurgent John Higgins to reach the final? Luca has been playing well recently and has started to earn the praise that has been heaped on him since he was first spotted as a budding junior player. However, the task at hand was never going to be easy with a granite opponent in the form of John Higgins. John who has been playing some of his best snooker in his 30 years as a professional, looks a completely different player to the forlorn one several seasons ago, who was an easy target for any player and almost retired due to his scoresheet of bad results. A decision that was eventually retracted thanks to a long hard look in the mirror and a lengthy conversation with his wife Denise.
The Meeting
Playing to the backdrop of the seaside resort of Llandudno in North Wales, it was the Belgian Bullet, Luca Brecel who got the early advantage firing in breaks of 64 and 105 to make it 2-0. He then went one better and took the next and left a shell shocked Higgins scratching his head wondering how he could start to claw his way back at 3-0? However, like any true champion, the Scot remained focused and recharged and started to play well, pulling one frame back to make it 1-3 and then subsequently the next two to get back on level terms at 3-3. By the end of the afternoon session, John had completely turned the match around with a 5-3 lead and topped off the session with a century break.
Coming back for the final time in the evening session, both players shared the first two frames to make the scoreline 6-4 and thanks to a Higgins-Esque pink, John increased his lead to 7-5. Higgins was definitely starting to sense the approaching winning line and started pulling all the vintage shots out of the bag including a superb drag shot.
It was a bombardment that the Belgian couldn’t sustain and despite taking a further two frames, couldn’t stop the racing Higgins freight train that ultimately left him standing on the platform. Higgins can be proud of this 10-7 victory but his work is certainly not finished. He will now have to face the dangerous and determined Australian, Neil Robertson in the final, no mean feat. I personally think Robertson will run rings around John and it will take some effort for the Scot if he is to keep up with his opponent. Higgins has the disadvantage of playing the day before and I have seen John flag before in a final as a result.
Afterthoughts
Neil will be setting his sights on back to back wins in this tournament and now with a capacity audience present, the Australian won’t take any prisoners in his attempt to retain this valuable snooker crown. Both players have definitely been the best on paper and have butted the trend of someone else reaching the final, not that there were any unfamiliar faces in this event as if it was only the best eight who got to play in it. Robertson wins it for me but you never know because snooker is such a highly unpredictable and fascinating game.
