Source: Xinhua

05-05-2009 14:02

LONDON, May 5 (Xinhua) -- John Higgins lifted the World Snooker Championship title with a commanding 18-9 final victory over Shaun Murphy at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield on Monday.

Scotland's John Higgins celebrates his victory in the awarding  ceremony after defeats England's Shaun Murphy by 18-9 in the  two-day final match of 2009 World Snooker Championship  in Sheffield, England, May 4, 2009. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi)

The Scot's success saw him to his third world crown to go with his 1998 and 2007 triumphs in a match where 2005 world champion Murphy was not at his best.

Reflecting on the match, Higgins said Sunday's second session -where he'd pulled away from 4-4 to an 11-5 overnight lead - had been decisive.

"I got a good run of the balls in the second session and that is what swung it my way," said Higgins.

Murphy, agreeing with Higgins's summary of the final, added: "I thought the match was good until we got to five-all, that second session is where it went wrong for me."

The 33-year-old Higgins, whose 11-5 overnight lead was the largest in a Crucible final, was 16-8 in front at the end of Monday's first session.