Sport in Brief: Higgins shows his hand to dash dreams of Trump

John Higgins reached his first ranking final since securing his second world title in 2007 by beating Judd Trump, the 19-year-old Bristol prospect, 6-4 at the Grand Prix in Glasgow, writes Clive Everton.

Trump created the surprise of the season with a 5-4 quarter-final victory over Ronnie O'Sullivan. But tight safety play and consistent scoring – including breaks of 51, 65, 91 and 78 – gave Higgins four straight frames to go 4-1 up. When he missed a few pots Trump was able to take the next three frames, making his two highest breaks of the tournament, 79 and 80, to equalise at 4-4. Higgins focused anew and with breaks of 61 and 83 took the two frames he needed without Trump potting a ball.

Sailing

Ericssons cover main rivals

Playing a team game, the two Ericsson boats in the Volvo round-the-world race were covering their main rivals for the lead on the first leg from Alicante to Cape Town, writes Stuart Alexander. The Nordic crew on Ericsson 3 have been marking the US leaders on Puma since the start a week ago and were neck and neck last night. Race favourites Ericsson 4 were putting in a hitch west to sit on the Irish Green Dragon, skippered by Ian Walker.

Golf

Fisher shows flash of class

After 13 holes, Britain's Ross Fisher joined the leader of the Order of Merit, Sweden's Robert Karlsson (16 holes), and Alvaro Quiros of Spain (13) on 14 under par when the Portugal Masters third round had to be suspended due to lightning in Vilamoura. Soren Hansen of Denmark was the clubhouse leader on 13 under.