As per usual, the final of snooker’s second most prestigious event will be contested today between two of the very best players. Both Ding Junhui and John Higgins thoroughly deserve their places in the final, though one of them has had to come through a significantly harder draw, writes Paul Krishnamurty.
“This final will not be one-sided. Only one of Higgins matches so far hasn’t been close, and Ding brings some excellent form to the table.”
Ding Junhui has clearly been the best player in the top half of the draw, eliminating three serious contenders already and only being taken to the wire once. He couldn’t have done any more, and has rekindled the expectations we all placed on him so early in his career. He hasn’t won an event since the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy, but as this is his second consecutive ranking final, it would seem only a matter of time before the Chinese star lands another title.
John Higgins’ path to the final has been far harder work. Just to reach the quarter-finals, he had to negotiate as tough a pair opponents as possible at that stage in Ricky Walden and Grand Prix champion Neil Robertson. He’s improved as the tournament has progressed, and having eliminated world no.1 Ronnie O’Sullivan in a classic last night, Higgins must now rate a strong favourite.
As yesterday’s win proved, there is no finer match player in the game than Higgins. How many players could lose an 8-2 lead to Ronnie, yet still hold it together to win a deciding frame? I’ve long felt he deserved mention in the same bracket as those ultimate legends of the game Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry, and a victory tonight would mean Higgins joins that pair Davis and as the only players to twice complete the World/UK Championship double in the same year.
Nevertheless, I doubt this final will be one-sided. Only one of Higgins matches so far hasn’t been close, and Ding brings some excellent form to the table. So rather than taking the 1.57 about Higgins winning, I’m going for a trio of correct scores on the ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ winning 10-9, 10-8 and 10-7, at odds that equate to around 3.0.
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