John Higgins demonstrated his legendary prowess on the snooker table by defeating Barry Hawkins with a commanding 10-7 victory to secure his place in the Tour Championship final. The match, held in Manchester, was a thrilling display of skill and determination.

After an evenly contested afternoon session that ended with the scores tied at 4-4, Higgins took control in the evening session. He delivered three stunning century breaks of 144, 130, and 107, leaving Hawkins struggling to respond. The highlight of the match was Higgins' 144 break in the 12th frame, which stands as the highest break of the tournament.

Hawkins, who had previously knocked out world number one Judd Trump in the quarter-finals, found himself outmatched by Higgins' precision and strategic play. The 49-year-old Scot expressed his delight at reaching another final, stating, "Into another final and I'm absolutely delighted. Barry was in control this afternoon, but tonight I felt like I got the table right and felt good out there. It was great."

Higgins will now face the winner of the second semi-final between Mark Selby and Ding Junhui in Sunday's best-of-19 frame final. Reflecting on his recent performances, Higgins added, "I've not been good enough in the past few years, so I've just got to enjoy it when I peak."

This victory not only cements Higgins' status as one of the sport's greats but also sets the stage for an exciting finale in the Tour Championship.