Higgins had led 10-6 overnight but, when play resumed yesterday, a battling Doherty clawed his way back, first to 10-12 and then 11-13 in the best of 35-frame match.

But a missed red in the opening frame of the last session dashed the Irishman's hopes of closing the gap to a single frame. He was to win just one more frame as Higgins produced a 128 clearance and finished in style with a 118 break to clinch the title.

It was double celebration for Higgins, 22, as the victory saw him replace his close friend and fellow Scot Stephen Hendry as world number one.

After collecting the winner's cheque for 220,000 pounds ($366,000), Higgins said: ``I'm thrilled to have beaten a great champion'' and added ``I thought I'd lost the advantage at 13-11 because I couldn't shake him off.''

Higgins paid tribute to the man heknocked off the world ranking top spot.

``Stephen Hendry is probably one of the reasons why I have done so well, after practising with him for a couple of years. In my opinion he is the best player to have ever played the game,'' the new champion said.