The final snooker match of the season takes place over Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday and will determine the winner of the World Championship and the man who will walk away with a cool £500,000 for his efforts.
John Higgins takes on Judd Trump for the title in a repeat of the 2011 world final and we should be in for something of a four-session classic over the best-of-35 frames. £300,000 rides on the outcome of this final so the stakes are huge.
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John Higgins
Credit has to go to John Higgins. After losing in the last two world finals he could be forgiven for thinking that his time has been and gone in this tournament but he has had none of that and has shown a determination to make it through the draw and take his shot at glory once again. He goes in search of a fifth world title in this match, which would elevate his status in the game even further.
Higgins has had to work very hard in this tournament, coming through a classic with Neil Robertson 13-10 in the quarter final having outlasted Stuart Bingham in the round before. He then went the distance in a drama filled semi-final with Dave Gilbert, winning the last two to make it into this third successive final. He’ll need to draw on all his resources to come through this one.
Judd Trump
Judd Trump is back in the world final for the second time. This is his first final since he broke onto the scene eight years ago when Higgins accounted for him. He is a different player now though. He is more selective about when to go for things and generally keeps things much more to a percentage game, although that has been at a slight cost to his scoring power in recent times.
Trump has largely had it comfortable in this tournament since the first round. He survived a real scare against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in that but since then he has overcome Ding Junhui 13-9, Stephen Maguire 13-6 and Gary Wilson 17-11 and worryingly for Higgins, you can’t say Trump has played anywhere near his best in any of those matches it has to be said.
Head to Head
These two men are no strangers to taking each other on. They have played 19 times away from the Championship League and Higgins has the advantage overall. He has 12 wins to the seven of Trump. This will be the fifth time they meet in a major final with Higgins having triumphed in three of their previous four, including the final of this tournament in 2011 which he won 18-15. The pair have met on one other occasion at this tournament, which was in the quarter final last year when Higgins came out on top in a deciding frame.
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Betting
I think we have to be looking at a close final here. These two men tend to throw up close matches and I see no reason why this one isn’t going to be like that. Higgins has shown all of his fighting qualities and having lost in the last two finals he is going to be desperate to make it third time lucky while Trump will give his all in a quest for a first world crown. The frames line here is 31.5 which means we need 18-14 or closer to be the end result in this final. I don’t see it being easier than that unless neither suddenly has nothing to give. Adrenalin can get them both through though so I’ll play the over.
I can’t resist a bet on John Higgins in this final either. He has a wonderful record against Judd Trump and while the Englishman is now experienced in major finals, this one is a little different and it is only his second one, and his first in eight years so it might take some getting used to. Also if this final goes incredibly tight I’d want to be on the proven been there and done it record of Higgins over Trump who might just struggle to get over the line here. If the prices were a bit closer I would probably leave it but after a good tournament I can afford a punt on Higgins.
Tips
Back Over 31.5 frames for a 4/10 stake at 1.95 with William Hill
Back it here:
Back J.Higgins to beat J.Trump for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with BetVictor
Back him here:
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