John Higgins produced a stunning fightback at Alexandra Palace this evening, defeating world number one Judd Trump 6-5 to secure his place in the Masters final.
The 50-year-old Scot appeared destined for defeat after falling 3-0 behind early in the contest, with a series of uncharacteristic mistakes plaguing his opening frames.
Trump extended his advantage to 5-3, yet Higgins refused to surrender.
The victory ended a miserable run of seven consecutive losses against the Englishman, a streak that stretched back to their 2019 World Championship final.
It marks Higgins's first Masters final appearance since 2021.
The contest's complexion shifted dramatically during the fourth frame.
Trump, whose best effort until then had been a modest 60, failed to convert two promising opportunities that would have given him a commanding 4-0 advantage.
Higgins pounced on the reprieve with renewed purpose.
John Higgins produced a stunning fightback at Alexandra Palace this evening
|PA
The fifth frame showcased the Scot at his finest, as he compiled a magnificent century break of 104 – comfortably the highest of the entire match.
His potting displayed vintage qualities, including an impressive long red up the table followed by a flourish on the blue.
From three frames adrift, Higgins had suddenly reduced the deficit to just one.
Trump appeared poised to seal victory when leading 5-3, requiring just one more frame to advance.
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This marks Higgins's first Masters final appearance since 2021
|PA
However, the ninth frame produced a remarkable collapse.
With only four balls left on the table, the 36-year-old inexplicably missed a straightforward brown that should have clinched the match.
Higgins punished the error ruthlessly, seizing the momentum with a composed break of 70 to reduce the arrears.
The Scot maintained his composure in the tenth frame, constructing a 57 to level the contest at five frames apiece.
Judd Trump appeared poised to seal victory when leading 5-3, requiring just one more frame to advance
|GETTY
Three consecutive frames had slipped from Trump's grasp in devastating fashion, transforming what seemed certain victory into sudden jeopardy.
The triumph etched Higgins's name further into snooker history, as he became the oldest player ever to reach the final of a Triple Crown event.
At 50, the Scot continues to defy expectations in a career that shows no signs of diminishing.
His opponent on Sunday will emerge from this evening's second semi-final between Kyren Wilson and Wu Yize, which gets underway at 7pm.
The comeback ranks among the most memorable of Higgins's distinguished Masters campaigns, demonstrating that his renowned composure and shot-making ability remain formidable weapons at the highest level of the sport.
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