John Higgins produced a brilliant display in last night’s Championship League Group Two playoff final to seal his place in March’s winners’ group.

The 34-year-old Scot secured his passage through to the playoffs with four wins out of six in the initial group stages, including a 3-0 hammering over Championship League debutant Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The Rocket rarely got going in the competition – his mind presumably occupied with thoughts of next week’s showpiece event at Wembley Arena. Just two wins for the current Masters champion resulted in elimination from the tournament, while Mark Selby was knocked out after he also suffered four defeats.

Higgins, though, was in fine form throughout the day. Barring a couple of brief slip-ups against Marco Fu and Ali Carter, the three-time world champion got better as the day progressed, and by the evening had hit top gear.

His toughest test came against the reigning Championship League holder, Judd Trump, in the playoff semi-finals. The 20-year-old came out of the blocks flying and appeared on course to reach the final himself after the opening two frames.

But 2-0 up and seemingly in control, Higgins was forced to showcase his quality and determination, and pulled the game back from the brink to 2-2.

And in the fifth and final frame, a quite brilliant 98-0 win saw Higgins into the final, where he faced Carter.

Playing in his home county, Carter was keen to win the playoff final to book his place in March’s winners’ group; but it was the on-song Higgins who dominated proceedings, capitalising on his opponent’s every mistake.

A 3-0 whitewash earned the Scot £3,900 in prize money, and he will be back in action next Wednesday in Round 2 of the Masters against Mark Allen.

Meanwhile, the Championship League will now take a week’s break before Group Three of the competition gets underway on January 18th.

Rob Swan