SNOOKER:JUDD TRUMP had John Higgins running scared tonight as he raced ahead in the World Championship final at the Crucible, Sheffield. Trump's exuberance versus the stoicism of Higgins was proving an enthralling battle, but it was the 21-year-old sensation from Bristol who was in charge at 10-7 in front as Scotland's three-time champion largely fed on scraps.

Trump attacked everything, and while he occasionally missed, Trump was mostly clinical and always entertaining. Some of his long pots were jaw-dropping.

Higgins had sufficient chances to remain just about within touching distance, and Trump’s only regret may be that he did not build up a bigger lead. However at 7-7, a scoreline which hardly seemed to reflect the flow of the match, Trump would have happily settled for taking the final three frames.

Adding to Higgins’ frustrations, he was fined £250 for conceding the 16th frame with enough points left on the table to force a respotted black. The pair had been locked level at 4-4 at the end of the afternoon session, the highlight of which was provided by Trump’s 102 break in the sixth frame.

Trump dropped 5-4 behind after the opening frame of the evening session when Higgins had a break of 60. But he had breaks of 55 and 58 to lead 6-5 and turned on the style in frame 12, playing a run of exhibition shots on his way to a break of 103 and a two-frame lead, finishing with an immense black played at high speed from close to the top cushion to the green pocket.

Following a tribute to Ted Lowe, after the commentator’s death yesterday morning, Trump came out to a deafening roar, befitting his status as snooker’s new superstar.