John Higgins Wins Championship League

John Higgins has won the 2017 Championship League after a 3-0 victory over Ryan Day in the final in Coventry on Thursday.

The Scot has enjoyed the Ricoh Arena over the last few months, having also tasted glory in the Champion of Champions at the venue before Christmas.

It marks the first time that Higgins has won the invitational series, which began in January and produced seven different group champions before this week’s Winners’ Group.

The 41 year-old only just squeezed into the semi-finals after winning only half of his six round-robin ties, but compiled a 120 en route to a 3-2 triumph over defending champion Judd Trump in the last four.

Against Day, Higgins controlled the final from the outset with runs of 138 and 84 helping him to a routine win over the Welshman.

Higgins told Championship League Snooker: “I love Coventry. It is good to win the Champion of Champions, win my group, and then win the Championship League. I am looking forward to coming back for the Champion of Champions later in the year and try and defend that title.”

“I was hitting the ball okay. Ryan was unlucky with a couple of kicks in the final frame but I was really happy how I played in the semi and the final, it was probably the best I have played all week.

“Any win is a great win, it doesn’t matter it if is the Championship League or the World Championship – I was struggling with confidence and winning a trophy gives you confidence.

“I have lost three first-round games recently so to come here and win is pleasing. It is great match practice and hopefully I can take that forward and do well in the last three or four big tournaments we have left and cap off a great season I have had.”

Day lost in his second big final in as many months but still pocketed a total of £32,600, a record earnings tally for the tournament.

Earlier on the final day, Mark Davis made history by constructing a second 147 break in the same event during his league victory against Higgins.

At 44 years and 202 days, it extends his record as the oldest player to compile a maximum break in competition, having previously broken the record earlier in the tournament.