Snooker: John Higgins sneaks home in China

John Higgins (GETTY IMAGES)

John Higgins won the Shanghai Masters title in a thrilling final, beating Judd Trump 10-9 in the best-of-19 match yesterday. It was the Scot's 25th career title and his first since he beat Trump in the 2011 World Championship final.

Trump had stormed into a 5-0 lead with breaks of 112, 80, 74 and 111 before Higgins hit back with a maximum 147 in the sixth frame. But having trailed 7-2 at the interval, Higgins won six straight frames to go 8-7 ahead, winning the 15th frame on the black.

Trump hit back with a 105 break to level at 8-8, but Higgins prevailed in a scrappy 17th to go 9-8. Trump won a cagey safety battle in the 18th frame to set up the decider. He edged ahead with a 35 break, but Higgins was eventually able to win 66-36 to claim the £75,000 winner's prize.