Hot-shot Higgins defeated reigning world champion and world number one Mark Williams 10-4 to collect the �78,000 first prize.

"Mark's beaten me in the last couple of games and losing to him in the world championship semi-final last season is a blow that I will never get over," he said after holding the UK trophy aloft in Bournemouth.

"So it was nice to put one over on him again.

"I was delighted with the start I made and that helped settle me down.

"After that it was just a question of picking off the frames and getting over the line.

"I would have shot myself had I lost that match after being 9-2 up, but in the end I was beginning to get nervous.

"Hopefully this will set me up for the rest of the season," said Higgins who will aim to follow up by winning the China Open starting on Saturday.

He also paid tribute to fellow Scot Richy McDonald, a qualified coach with the World Snooker Association.

"Richy's been brilliant. He's helped me with a couple of things with my game because it's so easy to get into bad habits. I certainly owe him a pint."

For his part, Williams summed up the final and accurately and sportingly.

"I take my hat off to him," the Welshman said. "He gave me a good hiding.

"When I got a chance, it was either a long pot or I was 60 behind. I got slaughtered from the first frame to the last.

"John must have been playing well because not many players have given me a roasting like that.

"Maybe if I had got it back to 9-5 or 9-6 I would have stood a chance, but John was just too good."