John Higgins believes his big-money win at the World Open will take the pressure off ‘for the next couple of years’. The veteran four-time world champion had gone four years without winning a ranking title before his superb run in Yushan. And the fact he is now £175,000 richer will put the 49-year-old in a healthier position to compete well into his fifties.

“This is massive,” he said after beating Joe O’Connor 10-6 in the final. “At 49, people would be thinking I would never get there again. The spin-offs of winning a big Chinese money event can establish you for the next couple of years. It takes the pressure off. This has given me a lot of confidence.”

Higgins’ achievement has moved him back into the top eight of the world rankings, along with fellow ‘Class of 92’ competitors Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams.

The Scot is hoping to carry his momentum into the World Grand Prix this week, where he faces Ali Carter in the opening round. Higgins admits that going into a tournament off the back of a win is an unfamiliar feeling.

“It has been a long time since I have won a big event,” he explained. “So, to win this and then roll to the next one, I am not used to it. I really don’t know how I will feel on Tuesday. It could help me or I could run into a brick wall.

“Hopefully it will reinforce a bit of confidence in myself, which if I am honest, it has been lacking for the last few years. I still felt I had played good stuff. The deciding-frame defeats do knock the stuffing out of you a bit. I have been honest enough to say that. I am just delighted.”

Higgins nearly crashed out in the World Open semi-finals, where he won each of the last three frames against Zak Surety to keep his hopes alive.