Trump, Higgins to fight for title at world snooker championship final

SHEFFIELD -- Judd Trump and John Higgins will fight for the title of the world snooker championship after both won their matches on Saturday.

Trump defeated Gary Wilson 17-11 while Higgins reached the for the third consecutive year by edging David Gilbert 17-16.

Higgins, who beat Trump in the 2011 final to win his fourth world title, will be playing his eighth final.

Eight years ago, the then 21-year-old Trump lost 18-15 to Higgins, but the number seven, who has had a career-best season, winning the Masters, the Northern Ireland Open and the World Grand Prix, looks to win a first world title before his 30th birthday.

"I'm a different player now compared to the 2011 final," Trump said. "I know when to turn balls down when I'm not playing too well, and how to dig in. My safety's been a lot better this season and that's probably the main reason I've done so well.

"I hope this final gets close to the same atmosphere of 2011."

Higgins has been level with Steve Davis in terms of Crucible final appearances, one behind Stephen Hendry's record of nine.

The Scot was beaten by Mark Selby 18-15 in 2017 and lost to Mark Williams 18-16 last year.

"I don't know how I got through that match," said 43-year-old Higgins. "I could have thrown the towel in during the first three sessions, I was getting so annoyed with myself, but I was just trying to hang in."

This year's final will be the richest match in snooker history, with a 500,000-pound top prize on offer.