Inspired Higgins earns final spot

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Maguire entered the final session leading 14-10 and needing to win only three of the remaining nine frames to triumph after dominating the third session on Friday evening.

But Higgins, the 1998 champion refused to buckle in a revival similar to the one shown by Shaun Murphy in defeating Matthew Stevens 13-12 in the quarter-finals after trailing 12-7.

Maguire failed to attain his previous heights in the tournament as he started to show the first signs of nerves while Higgins was close to the top of his game in clinching a place in his third world final.

Higgins won seven of the eight frames and also achieved the distinction of registering the 1,000th century at the Crucible in frame 29.

Maguire will be devastated by the outcome but at least can take consolation from producing some of his best snooker in the past fortnight since bursting on the snooker scene.

A missed pink into the middle bag by Maguire gave Higgins the chance in the first frame and a 47 clearance proved decisive and then The Wizard of Wishaw had the chance of a maximum break and a £157,000 jackpot in the next.

He potted 13 reds and 12 blacks but running out of position on the 13th black proved his downfall and he had to settle for a century.

Runs of 36 and 39 in frame 27 further cut Higgins' deficit before a 42 in the next helped Maguire to keep two frames ahead at the interval.

The 1,000th Crucible ton arrived in frame 29 to keep the pressure on Maguire and in frame 30 he missed a cut on the final pink into the middle pocket to allow Higgins to edge home and level at 15-15.