Higgins fights back to beat Williams

John Higgins captured the first major title of the new season with a 7-4 comeback win over Mark Williams in the Champions Cup final at Brighton.  

Higgins reeled off five frames without reply to claim the £100,000 first prize - the third largest winner's pot on offer this term.

For Williams there was a runners-up prize of £35,000 but that was of little consolation to the Welsh left-hander following another final failure.

Williams collapsed after making breaks of 100 and 124 to lead 4-2 and he has now lost in 10 of his last 14 finals.

"I had plenty of chances, in fact chances in almost every frame," said the loser. "So to lose leaves me feeling sick. I gave it to John and I guess it was meant to be his day.

"I have been losing in finals for five years and normally I don't care. But I have tried my guts out to win the tournament and in the end I blew it."

Higgins said: "I held myself together very well when the pressure was on. The clearance to go 6-4 up was vital. This is a great way to start the season and hopefully it will be the start of a good run for me."