John Higgins struggled to fight back the tears in an emotional interview after beating Mark Selby 10-8 to lift the Tour Championship title in Manchester. The Scot produced a vintage performance to continue his hot streak of form and send out a warning to his rivals ahead of the World Championship, which commences on April 19.

Higgins coasted to a 5-1 lead in the early stages on Sunday before Selby left him shellshocked by winning seven consecutive frames to hold an 8-5 advantage. The 49-year-old then shifted up a gear and totalled eight centuries – the record in a best-of-19 match – to reclaim the lead before finishing with a 132 clearance. Higgins pocketed the top prize of £150,000 plus the £10,000 high break bonus with his second ranking title in as many months after beating Joe O’Connor for the World Open on March 1.

After his victory, Higgins produced an outpour of emotion, describing the triumph as the highlight of his storied career.

“You are playing a monster of a player. To be 5-1 up and to be frozen out to be 8-5 behind, you don’t come back and win five in a row against Mark Selby normally,” he told interviewer Rob Walker.

“I managed to do it, so it was incredible. It is incredibly difficult. You are just hitting a brick wall, and I’ve done it so many times against him over the years. He just plays incredible stuff. It was my best ever win.”

Higgins added: “It’s my best-ever win. Never mind world titles or UK titles. The way Mark was playing to go 8-5, he is thinking his head was spinning – my head was spinning!

“I don’t know how I have come back before. Usually, he runs away and wins 10-5 like he did at the British Open. It is my best-ever win, he’s an unbelievable champion, and my best ever win.

“You never know if these games are ever going to come around again. I had confidence to think when I get in these positions, I can do it.

“In the last three or four years, I was probably doubting myself very much, so to actually get over the hill and then to be back challenging these great players, I am very proud.”

Walker then broke a visibly emotional Higgins by mentioning that he was able to share the moment with his wife and children in the crowd.

The former world No. 1 couldn’t conjure up an answer as the waterworks began before the interviewer brought him in for a hug, ending the interview.

No player in history has clinched the Tour Championship and gone on to win the World Championship later in the month.

But no player will fancy coming up against Higgins at the Crucible, and he will be eyeing etching his name further into folklore.