Nine months ago, Andrew Higginson had to win a match just to earn a place on the pro circuit. Now he's in the final of the Welsh Open.
The 29-year-old from Widnes beat Stephen Maguire 6-3 in the semis at the Newport Centre to set up a clash with Neil Robertson over 17 frames tomorrow.
Higginson is arguably the most unlikely ranking finalist in snooker history. At the end of last season, he went to the eighth and final Pontin’s International Open Series event needing to beat Martin Gould in the first round to get into the top eight in the Order of Merit and secure a place on the World Snooker Tour.
He won the match 4-2 and went on the win the tournament but still started this season without an official ranking. He had never previously been beyond the last 48 of a ranking event but broke that barrier by reaching the last 16 of the recent Malta Cup and has now gone even further.
In beating the likes of John Higgins and Maguire to reach the final he has guaranteed himself a £17,500 pay cheque, not to mention a £22,000 bonus for his magical 147 against Ali Carter yesterday.
"I know I keep saying it, but this is just a dream, it’s surreal," said Higginson tonight. "The ranking points, the money, everything is fantastic and every match I win is a bonus.
"If you’d said before Malta I’d get to a last 16 then a final, I’d have sent for the drugs testers. I’d have chopped my own leg off for that."
A break of 48 gave Higginson the first frame then Glasgow’s Maguire took the second with a 55 clearance.
The Englishman regained the lead with a 79 and started frame four with a 59 only for Maguire to snatch it with a 71 for 2-2 at the interval.
Runs of 66 and 94 saw Higginson take command after the break. Former European Open and UK Champion Maguire looked set to pull one back until he attemped a risky black on 48 in frame seven, clipping a red first. A cool 64 put Higginson 5-2 ahead.
World No 9 Maguire pulled one back but his hopes of a fight back didn’t last long. Higginson opened the next with a 53 before carelessly going in-off, but soon got another chance and completed the result with a 57.
"I don’t want to sound big-headed but I though I played really well for my first semi-final," he added. "I was very nervous at the start but once I got out there I enjoyed it and I was really positive.
"There’s no reason why I can’t win it, the way I’m playing I have a very good chance."
Maguire was disappointed but full of praise for his opponent. "He was better than me, he was too strong," he said. "I didn’t expect him to play like that, for his first semi it was incredible.
"He played as if it was a first round match with no pressure. His mind is obviously clear because he’s taking on the right shots and playing them well."
Deci a venit din fundu' carutii si acum alearga inaintea ei... hmmm... Hai Robertson!
