Snooker: Zhao Xintong beats John Higgins to win Players Championship
Zhao Xintong produced a commanding finish to beat John Higgins 10-7 and win the Players Championship in Telford, in a match that offered repeated momentum swings in high-quality snooker. The 28-year-old Chinese world champion closed from 7-6 down to win four straight frames and secure his fifth ranking event victory.
Snooker final in Telford
The final in Telford finished 10-7 in favour of Zhao Xintong. With little between the pair through a close contest, Zhao took control after trailing 7-6 and then ran off four consecutive frames to clinch the title, producing what one report called a "commanding finish. "
Early session swings
The contest featured multiple momentum swings in the opening session. John Higgins opened with a 2-0 lead before Zhao drew level. Zhao then went ahead for the first time to lead 4-3, but Higgins responded by winning the next frame with a score of 90 to even the contest again. The pair continued to trade frames into the evening session.
Zhao's successive centuries
From 7-6 down, Zhao produced successive centuries as he seized the lead and then saw out the match with relative ease. He also hit a fifth century in the final to seal what was described in commentary as a "ridiculously easy" final win and a "virtuoso display of snooker. " Those successive big breaks turned a finely poised match in Zhao's favour.
Milestones and records
The 28-year-old's victory follows his triumph at the World Grand Prix earlier this month and marks his second straight ranking title. Zhao has now won five ranking events in total and becomes the fourth player to win all of his first five ranking finals, following Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson.
Higgins reaction and quotes
Zhao's win also prevented four-time world champion John Higgins, 50, from becoming the oldest winner of a ranking event. Scotland's Higgins praised his opponent after the match, saying: "I'm sure my kids are lucky that they've watched somebody like Xintong because he is an absolute genius. " He added: "The last three frames there it was absolutely poetry in motion. I think he'll be the man to beat at the World Championship this year. "
Zhao celebrated what was described elsewhere as a 'dream' win over Higgins at the Players Championship, completing a sequence of high breaks and decisive frames that underlined his rapid rise in major events.
Final scoreline: Zhao Xintong 10, John Higgins 7. Venue: Players Championship, Telford. Zhao is a 28-year-old Chinese world champion; Higgins is a 50-year-old, four-time world champion. Zhao has now won five ranking events and his second straight ranking title, following the World Grand Prix earlier in the month, and becomes the fourth player to win all of his first five ranking finals after Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Neil Robertson.
