Higgins beats Hawkins to reach Tour Championship final

John Higgins booked his place in the final of the Tour Championship with a 10-7 victory over Barry Hawkins in Manchester.

With the scores locked at 4-4 at the end of the afternoon session, Higgins seized control of the contest in the evening with three century breaks of 144, 130 and 107.

The Scot's break of 144 in the 12th frame was the highest of the tournament and England's Hawkins, who knocked out world number one Judd Trump in the quarter-finals, could not find a response.

Higgins, 49, will face the winner of the second semi-final between Englishman Mark Selby and China's Ding Junhui in Sunday's best-of-19 frame final.

"Into another final and I'm absolutely delighted," Higgins told ITV.

"Barry was in control this afternoon, but tonight I felt like I got the table right and felt good out there. It was great.

"I've not been good enough in the past few years, so I've just got to enjoy it when I peak."