Trump wins Bulgaria Open with whitewash of Higgins

World number one Trump took the opening frame with breaks of 47 and 42 and then extended his advantage when Higgins missed the third-last red along the top cushion while just six points behind in frame two.

The Juddernaut was then on for a 147 before missing the 12th red with the rest.

However he returned to the table in frame four undeterred, completing the victory with a run of 63.

It was the third final \contested by the pair this season and second in succession after Higgins won UK PTC4 last week.

Higgins also won the Shanghai Masters 10-9 against Trump in September and beat him in the final of the 2011 World Championship.

"I have lost to John a few times recently so I really wanted to beat him," said Trump.

"It was a great atmosphere tonight, the crowd were brilliant and I really felt as if I could play well.

"I have been in four finals now this season and I feel as if I can win every tournament I enter, as long as I don't have to play John. I have really enjoyed being in Bulgaria and I hope in the future they can produce some top players."

Wizard of Wishaw Higgins said he was not given much of a chance by his 23-year-old opponent.

"I had a chance to win the second frame but I missed a red, and that was really the only chance I got," he said."Judd played too well for me this time.

"I'm looking ahead to the next few tournaments now and hoping to have a good run in the UK Championship."

In the semi-finals, Higgins and Trump triumphed over Neil Robertson and Mark Davis respectively.

Higgins claimed a dramatic sixth frame to seal victory while Trump also won 4-2.

At 2-0 down to Higgins, Australian Robertson knocked in two big breaks to level, including a 104 in frame four.

The four-times world champion responded with a 71 to move 3-2 ahead in the best-of-seven match and looked set to seal the match with ease in the sixth frame before missing a black off its spot.

The 2010 Crucible champion Robertson fought his way to frame ball, a simple red to the middle pocket, but contrived to miss it.

A safety exchange on the yellow saw Higgins escape from a snooker and fluke one himself. Robertson managed to hit the colour but left it on - and Higgins cleared up from there.

Trump went 2-0 ahead in his match before Davis won frame three on the black then levelled with a 118.

Trump's potting prowess saw him take the win from there.

The Bulgaria Open was the fourth event on snooker's European Tour which forms part of the Players Tour Championship.

The PTC is a series of 10 events - four UK events and six European - with the top 25 on the final Order of Merit going through to the Grand Finals in March, which has ranking event status. They will be joined by seven players from the Asian PTC Order of Merit.

The next event is European Tour event five, the Scottish Open, from December 14-16 in Ravenscraig.