John Higgins picked up the 21st ranking title of his career on Sunday night after thumping Ali Carter in the final of the Welsh Open. The Scot was a 9-4 winner over Carter in a final that saw him play some of the best snooker of his career.

Higgins lived up to his “Wizard of Wishaw” nickname by racing to a 5-0 lead and thought Carter came back to narrow the gap to 7-4, the Scot  took the final two frames to seal the win. 

Breaks of 95, 101, 71, 137 and 81 saw Higgins take complete command of the match from the outset. The Wishaw man said that it ranked among the top performances of his career.

“That was the best I’ve ever felt at the start of a final,” he said.

“I really didn’t know what was going on, I was totally zoned in. I was just delighted with how I played in the first five frames.

“It’s hard to win any tournament these days with the class of players we have so I’m delighted.”

Carter was unable to get a look in and the world number four admitted that he couldn’t compete.

“John put loads of pressure on me early on and played really well. He was outstanding,” the runner-up said.

Higgins took home the top prize money of £17,500 as well as the £2000 highest break prize for his 138 earlier in the week.