'I have not played any better' – Hungry John Higgins piles on £20,000 before Players Championship defence

A lean and keen John Higgins is hungry for more success after winning the latest Championship League tournament a week before he defends his Players Championship. Higgins gave himself the perfect tonic before his trip to Wolverhampton as he edged out Stuart Bingham 3-2 in Friday night's final, the third time he has won the invitational event over the past five years.

Ad/> Can O'Sullivan return to world No. 1 spot? Players Championship 2022 — How to watch the latest ranking event, draw, schedule O'Sullivan and Trump to meet in blockbuster clash at Players Championship Players Championship'I do not believe I could have played any better' — Higgins16 MINUTES AGO The svelte Scotsman – who has lost three stones over the past seven months – piled on £20,000 with the winner's cheque and a place in the Champion of Champions tournament in November that guarantees him another £12,500 for qualifying.

Higgins immediate attention turns to his first-round meeting with Hossein Vafaei at the Players Championship on Tuesday afternoon, an event that is contested between the top 16 players on the one-year list. The four-times world champion destroyed Jordan Brown (6-0), Mark Selby (6-0), Kyren Wilson (6-1) and Ronnie O'Sullivan (10-3) in claiming his 31st ranking trophy at the Players a year ago when he hit peak form.

“I’ve had some good match practice over the last couple of days. I am looking forward to Wolverhampton as well," said Higgins.

/> Higgins hit eight century breaks at the Championship League as he finished third behind Bingham and Yan BIngtao in the winners' group before sinking Yan 3-2 in the semi-finals after last year's Masters winner missed a straight pink needing only pink and black for victory. The victory ended Higgins'