Higgins - completed hat-trick of wins.

HIGGINS COMPLETES HAT-TRICK

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John Higgins protected his unbeaten start to the new campaign in Newcastle on Sunday to capture his third major title in seven weeks.

The 26-year-old Scot defeated countryman Graeme Dott 9-6 to add the Stan James British Open crown to his successes at the Champions Cup and Regal Masters.

Higgins' victory was worth £92,500, boosting his earnings to £255,500. And he becomes the first player ever to win the first three tournaments of the season.

"The snooker wasn't of the highest quality but I got the result," said Higgins, just a week after becoming a father for the first time.

By capturing the British Open crown Higgins has become the first player to capture the opening three events of a new season.

He now heads to Preston for the LG Cup next week looking to stretch an unbeaten run that stands at 10 matches.

In the space of seven glorious weeks the 26-year-old world number three has defeated Mark Williams to lift the Champions Cup in Brighton, Ronnie O'Sullivan to capture the Regal Masters in Glasgow and now Dott at the Telewest Arena.

Just for good measure he became a father for the first time a week ago when wife Denise gave birth to a boy, Pierce.

And Higgins junior won't be short of new toys or clothes. His in-form dad has pocketed £255,000 this term, including his latest pay day of £92,500.

"The wee man eats for Scotland so the money will come in handy for food," grinned the contented champion.

"I thought after winning the Regal Masters - my first title in Scotland - life couldn't get any better, but it has.

"Hendry and Davis have got about every other record in the book so I'm very honoured to have this one.

"It's a great way to start the season with three titles. I may not be showing it inside but I'm ecstatic.

"I'll have to keep the tape and show Pierce when he's a little older."

Higgins started odds-on favourite to beat world number 14 Dott for the sixth time in seven meetings.

But when he trailed 3-1 it looked as though Dott might be able to follow-up his unexpected success over O'Sullivan in the penultimate round. But it wasn't to be.

"Had I managed to go 4-1 up I think it would have relaxed me," said Dott, whose run at the Telewest Arena has lifted him to 10th on the provisional rankings.

"But John won a close fifth frame and after that he seemed to step up a gear.

"I was sat in my chair for too long against the best player in the world at the moment.

"It's great to get to another final but next time if it happens hopefully I can play someone outside the top four.

"The likes of Higgins, Hendry, O'Sullivan and Mark Williams are on a different planet.

"I know you can't pick and choose your opponents. But John defeated Dave Harold to win his first title, Fergal O'Brien beat Anthony Hamilton and Stephen Lee played Marco Fu. So it can happen."

Dott's only other final appearance ended in a 9-1 defeat by Hendry in the 1999 Scottish Open final.

At least he gave a better account of himself than the last time. But Higgins finished the first session 5-3 ahead and a break of 93 - his best of the contest - when the game resumed took him 6-3 up.

Dott would not lie down, notching runs of 100 and 42 to close the gap to 6-5.

But it was the closest he came and though Higgins compiled a break of 112 in frame 12, the champion to be had to graft to for his place in the record books.

Dott pocketed a £50,500 consolation prize while O'Sullivan also picked up a £7,500 bonus for his 143 tournament-high break against Joe Swail.