00:00Higgins leading Xiao Xin Tong by two frames to one, both players queuing well.
00:21Higgins moved himself up to 11th place on the one-year ranking list in getting to this final, so at
00:28the moment...
00:30He's inside the cut-off for the Tour Championship, which, of course, he won last season.
00:34Winning it doesn't mean that you get to defend it, as Karen Wilson found out for this event.
00:40Wilson won it last season, beating Trump in a decider, but didn't have the points at the cut-off to
00:45get into the 16.
00:55But, of course, the primary focus, and there's still a couple of events, including next week's Welsh Open,
01:00before the cut-off for that Tour Championship in Manchester, is winning this trophy.
01:32Well, he's a long red, and it's not an easy one.
01:36Swinging the cue ball around the back of the reds and the black.
01:41Well, I did it round the table, but not in position to keep the break going, but, of course, he
01:47can tickle in behind a colour.
01:54Playing the brownie behind the green here.
01:57Shutting, Tom.
02:00He's played it well because it looks like the cue ball is very close to touching the green.
02:05Of course, it may be touching.
02:07Marcel Eckhart came and looked, but he wouldn't declare touching the ball anyway on a colour when you're on a
02:11red.
02:13But, for his records, he would like to know.
04:57Another thing to say is, you know, someone's long game being as good as Zhao Zintong, it doesn't always mean
05:01you'll win the frame off the ball you pop, but in a roundabout way you can because, you know, he
05:07played the snooker, which was fiendishly difficult for Higgins to hit. He got nowhere near the escape.
05:16So in summary, the long pot that he knocked in.
05:21So in summary, the long pot that he knocked in has one in the frame. We're giving him the advantage.
05:28We'll be in a couple of shots later.
05:39I've got a glimpse of a glimpse of a couple of reds below the pink, which may be some sort
05:44of a plant to right corner. It's not entirely certain as to whether there would be in line.
05:53Amen.
05:55Amen.
06:42to them as of yet that's not gone to plan he's got the red to middle to keep
06:49the break going but he didn't plan he wanted to be on the red to the right
06:54and above the black
07:0719
07:2824
07:29it's about gone far enough I think he was a little concerned there that he hadn't
07:4325 so the break will become more complicated from this point on it really looked at those
07:49two reds yet so I don't think he believes they do form a plant but that same way that
07:58just up from the black is the one that he's on now I think
08:15finally he's had a little look at it
08:23I mean that's just beautiful isn't it
08:2631
08:26it's just the way he gets up here and he's zipping around
08:30it's been a tough break because obviously the black has been out of commission so he's had to
08:35ensure good position on that blue
08:38getting top side of it time and time again is an art in itself
08:4536
08:46yeah but it makes the game so much easier when you can do that
08:51sending the cue ball
08:53in and out of the bulk all the time
08:5537
08:55yeah
08:55yeah but it's a little bit tiring
08:57you lose position
09:06that was not one of his better ones he's under hit it and there's a left hander that means he's
09:10stretching on this red now
09:1242
09:25Higgins made a great start by winning the first two frames
09:28wondering if he's going to get the opportunity to make it 3-1
09:38thanks
09:4943
09:5043
10:0346
10:0546
10:2047
10:21well bad news of course that he's not on the pink but putting the pink and brown like that
10:27it has to be in his favour
10:30it's a real insurance because john
10:33Higgins cannot really clear up if the chance ever came
10:35anyway this is a big one
10:40oh he hit that well in your goodness me
10:43he needs another red
10:45and he's been a very awkward
10:46break as philip pointed out
10:48the black's never been in play
10:51red colour anyway
10:56thanks
10:57this has been some break actually
10:5953
10:59you see breaks where players are in around the black spot and they're playing beautiful controlled position but this has
11:06not been that kind of a visit
11:09I don't think you should worry should make sure this goes in
11:14terrific
11:18brilliantly
11:19brilliantly
11:19conceived
11:20this break
11:2158
11:21far from straightforward
11:25but barring
11:26a snooker to tie
11:28okay
11:30it's going to be two each
11:32it's going to be two each
11:35and given the position
11:36of the balls
11:37as that cross double goes in
11:39apparently it was a fluke
11:40but
11:42in truth the frame was one already
11:43thanks to the
11:45brilliant break that shell's been able to put together
11:47I think I'd have been claiming that one
11:49I don't think I'd have been
11:50put my hand up
11:51but I've
11:52been happy to
11:53for anyone to believe I've played
11:54the double it
11:55in fact I'm surprised he didn't
11:58mean to do that
12:04very interesting final isn't it
12:05this is going to be
12:07it's been a very entertaining
12:09quartet of frames
12:10John Higgins starting the sharper
12:12taking a 2-0 lead
12:13but Zhao once he's settled into his work
12:15looking ominously good
12:17and that break in particular
12:18was brilliantly constructed
12:20and at the
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