Judd Trump beats John Higgins 6-5 in the UK Championship epic

Higgins appeared to be in firm control of the decider, leading by 34 points, with both players engaged in a lengthy safety battle involving a series of roll-ups in the red card pack.

Higgins, however, blinked first, a loose safety shot giving Trump a view of a pot in the middle, which he gleefully accepted, before putting together a first-class break of 106, which proved a fitting finale to an engrossing joust.

For Higgins it proved to be another stinging defeat in a high-profile match, a match he believes he should have won after leading 4-3 at one point and then producing a fine run of 66 in frame 10 to take victory to grab. match the distance.

In reality, the crowd were treated to trademark Higgins for most of the match, with the experienced Scot squeezing the first frame onto the last black with a stunning clearance, then coming from behind again to take out frame four and make it 2- 2 to come. .

Things were busy for most of the afternoon, but Trump, as has now become his habit, stood tall when it mattered most, signaling that his wait for a second British Championship title could soon be over.