HIGGINS READY FOR RONNIE REMATCH
The Rocket demolished the Wizard of Wishaw 10-3 to win snooker’s most prestigious invitation event last year, though the Scot got his revenge in the final of the Grand Prix in October with a 9-2 thrashing.
Higgins, whose only Masters crown came in 1999, was in glorious form in a 6-2 win tonight. He took a scrappy opening frame with runs of 27 and 31 then rattled in breaks of 78, 64, 68 and 63 to establish a 5-0 lead.
McManus, the 1994 Masters champ, had been in impressive form in wins over Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams but barely got a look in tonight until he registered on the scoreboard with a 68 in frame six.
The Glaswegian pulled another one back with three scoring visits in the seventh. But Higgins ended his hopes of a comeback with a fine 79 to seal victory.
"I'm delighted to win," said 30-year-old Higgins. "Alan didn't start very well and to win the first four frames gave me a real boost.
"Once I was 5-0 up I lost a bit of concentration and he came back. If it had gone 5-3 it might have got a bit edgy.
"I can't wait to play Ronnie in front of a full house in his back yard. It's the type of game you dream about and I've got a point to prove after being on the wrong end of the scoreline last year.
"I'm playing with a lot of confidence and I'm not far away from same form I showed (in the Grand Prix) at Preston.
"I will definitely need to focus from the start tomorrow because Ronnie is the No 1 player. It's a great honour to play him in what looks to be the last Masters final at this venue.
"I've won it once before and I would love to win it again."
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This post has been edited by Rozer on 22 Jan 2006, 14:16