John Higgins completed an emotional victory in the Welsh Open late Sunday, battling past Stephen Maguire 9-6. Playing in his first tournament since the death of his father, Higgins held himself together and completed his run to the title with a hard-fought win.

Maguire led 5-2 at one point but Higgins responded by winning five frames in succession and then hauling himself over the line in a tense finish to frame 15.

A 75 gave Higgins his fifth frame in succession and sent him to the interval 7-5 up.

Maguire came out all guns blazing. He potted six reds and blacks but was forced to put any thoughts of a 147 out of his mind, settling for 75 to win the frame.

But breaks of 54 and 66 took Higgins within one frame of success and a 72 left him on the brink of victory, with Maguire needing two snookers.

He got them, laying snookers on the final red and the green, but went in off attempting an ambitious brown and Higgins dropped it in to clinch frame and match.

Higgins had been visibly emotional after his first-round win over Jack Lisowski and, having also conquered Dave Harold, Matthew Stevens and Ali Carter, paid tribute to his father once more after the win.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said.

“My mum and my wife are here and I’m sure Stephen will have a beer with us and we’ll toast the guy.”