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," said Higgins.
"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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