 Higgins has been back to his best this season |
Masters champion John Higgins said he wanted his thrilling 10-9 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan to act as a launch-pad for a second world title. Higgins won at The Crucible in 1998, but has not joined the sport's elite by repeating the win.
"This Masters win will stay with me for the rest of my days - I can't believe I've won," said Higgins.
"Winning the Masters this year has been a dream come true, but now I want to win the World Championship again."
After a spell in the doldrums, Higgins has approached his best form this season and thrashed O'Sullivan 9-2 win in the Grand Prix final back in October.
The 30-year-old said he was desperate to repeat his 1998 Crucible success and prove he ranked alongside the likes of Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ray Reardon, Alex Higgins and O'Sullivan as a multiple winner.
The classic encounter was the last ever snooker match at the Wembley Conference Centre which is set to be demolished later this year.
"It's such a fitting finale for everyone, especially for the crowd," said Higgins.
"I'll take the best ever memories away from this tournament. Someone could not have written the script better."
Higgins said the key ball in his victory was the red to the middle that set up his superb clearance in the final frame.
The Scot, trailing 60-0, rolled in the pot by the narrowest of margins, with the red looking like it was going to stop a fraction short of the pocket.
"I was praying and praying for the ball to go in," said Higgins.
"I didn't think it was going in, but I was so relieved to see it drop.
"You can be in the depths of despair and then be totally elated. That was a brilliant clearance to win it.
"When I got down to the black ball I was just shaking, but thankfully I managed to hold my nerve."
 O'Sullivan missed a difficult red in the last frame to let Higgins in |
O'Sullivan was matter-of-fact about his defeat.
"I wasn't good enough at the end of the day," said the world number one.
"I found it difficult to get any momentum going.
"It's been a fantastic tournament and great to be part of it. It was a tough match all day long.
"I'm disappointed not to have won, but John made a great clearance in the last frame."
MMIX
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I wasn't good enough
