John Higgins chases Mark Williams record on 40th anniversary of Rex Williams facing Jimmy White in historic snooker final - 'Unbelievable level'
Updated 23/02/2026 at 08:53 GMT
John Higgins will overtake Mark Williams as the oldest ranking event winner in history if he can defeat world champion Zhao Xintong in the Players Championship final in Telford. Higgins edged world No. 1 Judd Trump 6-5 in a thrilling duel on Saturday afternoon, with Zhao defeating Mark Allen by the same scoreline in the evening. For Higgins, it will be a record 60th ranking final appearance.
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John Higgins will bring back memories of one of the most rousing snooker runs of the 1980s when he contests the Players Championship final in Telford on Sunday.
The evergreen Scot has the chance to become the oldest winner of a ranking event when he faces world champion Zhao Xintong for the ÂŁ150,000 first prize after two absorbing semi-finals.
Higgins produced a stirring closing break of 65 to edge world No. 1 Judd Trump 6-5 on Saturday afternoon, before Zhao edged Mark Allen by the same scoreline in an equally taut evening session.
Mark Williams became the oldest ranking winner in history when he defeated Shaun Murphy 10-3 to lift the Xi'an Grand Prix in October.
But fellow 'Class of '92' icon Higgins will overtake that mark by three months if he can overcome Zhao in their best-of-19 frame duel.
It is another Williams who remains the oldest ranking event finalist of the modern era when he enjoyed a rousing run to the title match at the 1986 Grand Prix in Reading.
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Terry Griffiths and Rex Williams at the 1988 Irish Masters.
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At the age of 53, Rex Williams, the former chair of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, turned back the clock with wins over Mark Wildman (5-1), Alex Higgins (5-1), Steve Davis (5-1) and Neal Foulds (9-8).
He produced a 125 break in his only major final to lead Jimmy White 6-4 before the Whirlwind reeled off six straight frames to deny his opponent a historic title.
Higgins will aim to go one step further after he almost blew up late on in a semi-final that saw both men struggle for peak form.
The world No. 5 should have closed out a 6-4 win over Trump, but missed a routine pink to right middle before going in off, escaping from a snooker seconds later, which enabled Trump to force the decider.
It looked like Higgins' chance had gone when he split the reds off the blue in the decider, only to inadvertently produce a plant that handed his opponent the initiative.
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But missing a tricky red bridging over another red enabled Higgins to deliver the winning thrust as a closing 65 booked his final spot.
"That was incredible how it transpired at the end," said Higgins, who will appear in a record 60th ranking final.
"When I missed the pink to win 6-4, I would have had a lot worse things in my mind in previous matches.
"I just sat out in the arena and concentrated. I wanted to stay positive and stay in the moment. I potted the red when going into the pack, and it was the snooker gods punishing me.
"I can't believe he then missed and gave me a chance to clear up."
The four-time world champion has reached five major finals over the past 11 months, winning the World Open with a 10-6 victory over Joe O'Connor, and the Tour Championship by eclipsing Mark Selby 10-8.
But he also lost 10-6 to Wu Yize at the International Championship and 10-6 to Kyren Wilson at the Masters last month.
"It gives you that little bit of confidence, and your mind telling you that you can do it under the utmost pressure," said Higgins, who could also become the first professional to win ranking titles in his teens, 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
"You shouldn't really be doing it at this age. The pressure should be too much, but there are a few of us still up there playing and producing an unbelievable level.
"I'm drained now. I need to go and relax tonight, then get ready."
Zhao trailed Allen 3-1 and 5-4, but breaks of 140, 103, 58 and closing efforts of 53 and 56 saw him deny the two-time winner, who had produced 107, 55, 65 and 90 in a high-quality joust.
Zhao is chasing back-to-back ranking titles following his 10-6 win over Zhang Anda at the World Grand Prix.
Higgins defeated Zhao 6-5 in the last eight at the Masters, with Zhao enjoying a 5-3 win in the first round of the World Grand Prix earlier this month.
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"John is a very nice person," said Zhao, who will move above Higgins in the rankings with victory in Telford.
"I remember when we used to practise together, he especially liked Zhou Yuelong. He would often ask Zhou to play a few frames, and I would be there as a practice partner watching.
"But whether it was in the past or now, he has always been one of the very top players.
"Maybe he’s not at the absolute peak of his career like before, but he is still capable of beating anyone in the world.
"I’ll need to produce my very best if I want to compete with him. Otherwise, he could take the match away from me very easily."
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