Top 20 Crucible moments: #14 – John Higgins’ fourth title in 2011

We’re counting down the top 20 Crucible moments as voted for by Live Snooker readers. At number 14, John Higgins winning his fourth title in 2011…

The 2011 World Snooker Championship final was a perfect example of youth versus experience.

Three-time champion John Higgins was searching for a fourth Crucible crown but arrived in Sheffield off the back of a rollercoaster year both on and off the table, which included the death of his father just weeks before the sport’s blue-riband event.

Nevertheless, he made it all the way through to a fifth final, while 21-year-old Judd Trump was making his debut in the sport’s biggest showpiece after wowing the Crucible crowd with his exciting brand of ‘Naughty Snooker’.

After being locked at 7-7 in a gripping contest, Trump won the last three frames of the first day to move 10-7 in front overnight.

However, Higgins showed his trademark tenacity to turn things around on day two, winning six of the first eight frames to go 13-12 ahead.

One of the greatest atmospheres ever witnessed in Crucible history welcomed the players into the arena for the final session.

Higgins’ fellow Scot Anthony McGill, who was a 20-year-old at the end of his first season as a professional at the time, remembers: “I can only imagine what the two guys must have felt but, watching it on the TV, I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The next six frames were shared as Higgins held a 16-15 lead before moving to the brink of victory but Trump, who beat the likes of Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui during his run to the Final, threatened to keep the match alive when leading 61-0 in the next.

Although, the Wizard produced a neat clearance to the blue before laying the snooker he needed on the pink, which Trump could only hit at the second attempt, and a terrific double followed by a cool mid-range black wrapped up an emotional fourth success in Sheffield.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=rjfXW93-iGM%3Fecver%3D2