John Higgins - produced an awesome display.

LIVERPOOL VICTORIA UK CHAMPIONSHIP

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Mark Williams had to be content with the bridesmaid role as husband-to-be John Higgins regained his Liverpool Victoria UK Championship title in Bournemouth on Sunday night.

Higgins prevented the world champion becoming only the third player in the history of the tournament to make a successful defence of his trophy.

The 1998 UK title holder humbled his Welsh rival 10-4 in a high quality match befitting of the occasion.

Higgins, who marries fiancee Denise on December 22, picked up £78,000 towards a honeymoon in Mauritius, while Williams pocketed £41,000 by way ofconsolation.

It was a great display by the 25-year-old world number two in his first final since winning the Irish Masters at Goffs last March.

A magnificent seven opening frame burst in the first session ensured Higgins would gain an early wedding present for Denise.

His 7-2 lead included three century breaks - 131,108, and 115 - plus runs of 73, 54, 55 and 43.

Williams, appearing in his 11th final in 15 months, also reached three figures and but for a missed yellow he could have overtaken Quinten Hann's 141 for the £5,000 highest break prize.

When the match resumed Higgins' inexorable progress to the title continued as further runs of 45 and 76 took him to within one of victory.

Only then did the 25-year-old from Wishaw begin to falter. He missed a couple of half chances and Williams, with nothing to lose, added some respectability to the scoreline.

It ensured the match reached its scheduled final interval and prevented the need for an exhibition.

But there was no way back for Williams who, in last season's world championship semi-final, came from 15-11 to win 18-15.

The mini revival was stamped out as soon as the players came out. Higgins took frame 14 76-16 and it was 10-4 over and out for Williams.

After the victory Higgins admitted: "That's a weight off my mind."

He added: "Mark's beaten me in the last couple of games and losing to him in the world championship semi-final last season is a blow that I will never get over.

"So, it was nice to put one over on him again," he said. "I was delighted with the start I made and that helped settle me down.

"After that it was just a question of picking off the frames and getting over the line.

"I would have shot myself had I lost that match after being 9-2 up, but in the end I was beginning to get nervous.

"Hopefully this will set me up for the rest of the season."

But Williams was clearly upset at being blown off the table. "I got slaughtered from the first frame to the last.

"John must have been playing well because not many players have given me a roasting like that.

"Maybe if I had got it back to 9-5 or 9-6 I would have stood a chance, but John was just too good."

Apart from his runners-up cheque there was one other consolation for Williams.

He was voted player of the season for 1999-2000 by the Snooker Writers' Association who also chose Ali Carter, the 1999 Benson and Hedges championship winner, as their young player of the season.