John Higgins through to Scottish Open final after Ronnie O’Sullivan rout
Higgins produced another inspired display against rival O’Sullivan (Photo by PA Images)
John Higgins will play Luca Brecel in the 2021 Scottish Open final following a 6-1 demolition of Ronnie O’Sullivan in Llandudno.
The four-time World champion emphatically booked a place in the 54th ranking event final of his glittering career at Venue Cymru on Saturday.
Higgins had overcome O’Sullivan in four of the five editions of ‘El Clasico’ in 2021, including a comprehensive 6-1 rout in the Champion of Champions last month.
The Wizard, who reeled off five successive frames from 3-0 down against David Gilbert in the quarter-finals, built on his momentum with a lovely 76 clearance.
After doubling his lead, Higgins pulled further clear with a magnificent clearance of 125 putting him 3-0 to the good.
The Scotsman looked on course for a 4-0 advantage but broke down after missing a red to the right centre; enabling O’Sullivan to clear with 86 and stop the rot.
Although, it proved a false dawn for the Rocket, who had come through three deciding-frame finishes to reach his second successive Home Nations semi-final.
After restoring his three-frame buffer, 2016 runner-up Higgins produced breaks of 74 and 98 to book his slot in a second final at this event.
A beaten finalist at the Northern Ireland Open and English Open, the world number seven will hope it is third time lucky in this season’s Home Nations series.
Standing in his way is Brecel, who overcame Higgins’ compatriot Anthony McGill by the same scoreline.
Looking to reach back-to-back ranking event finals, UK Championship runner-up Brecel was quickly out of the blocks with a brilliant break of 96.
A scrappy second frame went the way of the Belgian, who also won the next two to open a commanding 4-0 lead at the mid-session interval.
Upon the resumption, the world number 17 then moved to the brink of victory which, despite McGill averting the whitewash with 90, he sealed to make it six wins from six over the Gladiator.