An overview of a classic final – 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championship

Only a few will be able to forget the final match of this year’s Betfred.com World Snooker Championship, between John Higgins and Judd Trump, held at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.

The encounter was one of a kind. Scottish professional, John Higgins, became the only third player after Stephen Hendry (seven) and Steve Davis (six), to win more than three world titles. Judd Trump, on the same note became the second youngest player ever,
since Stephen Hendry in 1990, to reach a Crucible final.

The players showcased their magnificent skills and were watched by almost 800 million people around the world. Though Higgins, who is the most experienced player in the game, came on the top by a frame score of 18-15, it was Trump who captured the hearts
of the viewers.

Twenty-one-year-old, Trump, stunned everyone in the first two sessions, as he dominated his experienced opponent by a frame score of 7-10. The following third and fourth session were quite dramatic.

In the third session, there was a point when the Bristolian Ace potter, Trump, was leading by a frame score of 9-12 and it looked as if he is going to dominate this session as well, before the Wizard of Wishaw, Higgins, bounced back into the game and won
all the last four frames. It was a highly impressive performance from Higgins, as he showed great persistence to turn his three frame deficit, into a one frame advantage.

In the fourth session, both players were given a standing ovation from a packed Crucible crowd. Higgins dominated the first frame with a classy break of 62 to extend his lead by 14-12, before the young Englishman stunned him by pocketing the next two frames
to level the things, at 14-14.

Trump was on the verge of winning the following twenty-ninth frame, before he unfortunately snookered himself behind the black ball and the frame slipped away. The next two frames were shared by both players with the scores at 17-15, until the dramatic thirty-third
frame came up.

Trump fired a superb break of 60 in the next frame, before he missed an unbelievable pink off the spot. Higgins then quickly stepped up and managed trapping his opponent behind the pink ball, after clearing up the table to seal his victory.

Higgins, while speaking in the post-match interview said, “This is far and away the biggest and best I’ve ever won, no question.”

The 35-year-old also appreciated the crowd by saying, “I’ll love until my dying days the entrance as we came in tonight. I’ve never been close to sampling anything close to that in a snooker match. I thought I’d been involved in big matches but that blew
it away. It was 100 times better than any entrance I’ve been involved in.”

He also admitted that his opponent has immense talent. While praising Trump, the Scottish professional added, “We’ve got a new star. The oldies like us are getting pushed aside. He’s definitely the future. He’s great.”

Judd Trump has also been admired by many other big names and it is fair to say that for him, winning the world title will only be a matter of time.