John Higgins crowned Championship League winner after edging nervy final

John Higgins says he couldn't have played any better as he was crowned Championship League winner in Leicester last night, having defeated Stuart Bingham in a nervy final.

Higgins led 2-0 but when Bingham pulled it back to 2-2, the Scot held his nerve to win the deciding frame, earning a spot in the Champion of Champions tournament.

Former world number one Higgins, 46, who has now won the tournament three times, was a late entrant to the winners' group series of games after clinching Group 7 at the start of the week.

He hit 50 and 82 in successive frames to go 2-0 up, and was on the cusp of winning the tournament before Bingham fought back.

But a winning break of 88 settled it in Higgins' favour.

Higgins beat Yan Bingtao in a hard-fought semi-final on Friday night to reach the final, while Bingham defeated Liang Wenbo.

The delighted winner, who lost to Judd Trump in last year's final, told Eurosport: "I played the best I've played in the last two days in the final. I am delighted to win.

"I've had some good match practice over the last couple of days. I am looking forward to Wolverhampton (Players Championship} as well.

"Within my own self, I do not believe I could have played any better."

That triumph puts Higgins in to the Champion of Champions, which features players who have won a tournament in the last 12 months, with the field topped up by virtue of world rankings.

"The Cazoo Champion of Champions was one of the best tournaments I played all season.

"It is great I am going back there.

"It's a tough tournament to get into, and you must win a tournament.

"Although this isn't the biggest of tournaments to win all season, they all count."

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