Snooker: Bold Higgins eases past Allen to book place in UK final

John Higgins defeated Mark Allen 9-5 in Telford last night to book his place in the 12Bet.com UK Championship final and close in on a dream return to major championship competition.

The Scot, playing in his first tournament in England since serving a six-month ban for bringing the game into disrepute, proved too strong for his opponent in a one-sided evening session.

The three-time world champion won it 5-1, sealing victory with runs of 100 and 73, to keep his ambitions of a first UK Championship title in a decade alive. Higgins will take on either Shaun Murphy or Mark Williams in the final tomorrow.

Having gone into the evening session all square at 4-4, Higgins immediately took charge by winning the opening two frames, the first with a run of 59. It was the first time either player had been more than a frame in front during the match.