Zhao Xintong delivered beneath stress to beat John Higgins within the Gamers Championship ultimate.
Zhao Xintong held his nerve in opposition to John Higgins to win the Gamers Championship (Picture: Getty)
John Higgins paid the last word praise to Zhao Xintong after dropping to the reigning world champion in an exciting Gamers Championship ultimate. The 2 gamers had been stage at seven frames every earlier than Zhao strung collectively three spectacular breaks to assert a 10-7 victory. It secured him a fifth successive ultimate win and back-to-back titles after the World Grand Prix earlier this month.
There wasn’t a lot to separate Zhao and Higgins till the enterprise finish of the match, when the Chinese language participant turned up the warmth and prevailed beneath stress. He was lauded by his Scottish opponent afterwards, being likened to soccer icon George Greatest and legendary Tremendous Bowl-winning coach Jimmy Johnson as Higgins piled on the reward.
“I can at all times keep in mind my dad saying issues like he was fortunate to see individuals like George Greatest and Jimmy Johnson,” stated Higgins in his post-match interview.
“The snooker gamers, I am positive my youngsters are fortunate that they’ve watched someone like Xintong as a result of he’s an absolute genius. A genius.”
Zhao, in the meantime, described his victory as a ‘dream’ and instructed that he was fortunate to win the match whereas not taking part in at his absolute best.
“I nonetheless cannot imagine it,” he stated. “I used to be in Hong Kong final week. I received the championship once more. It is a dream. I am unable to imagine that. I simply need to do one of the best snooker. This week I performed not likely good, however the final three frames I performed three good frames.”
Looking forward to his upcoming World Championship title defence, he added: “I do not need to assume quite a bit. I simply need to benefit from the desk, get pleasure from snooker.”
The 28-year-old turned the primary Chinese language participant to clinch snooker’s largest prize final 12 months and is among the many favourites to safe glory on the subsequent version of the match, which will get underway in April.
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