World Snooker have confirmed that the 2009 UK Championship will once again he held at the Telford International Centre this December.

A World Snooker spokesman said: “We have been delighted with the success of the tournament at Telford over the past two years and we are looking forward to returning in December.”

The line-up for next season’s Premier League has been finalised with rising young star Judd Trump completing the seven man field.

The youngster from Bristol came through the Championship League Snooker to book his spot in the Sky Sports event and can now look forward to games against Ronnie O’Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Stephen Hendry.

John Higgins is the new World Snooker Champion after defeating 2005 winner Shaun Murphy 18-9 at the Crucible theatre.

“I’m over the moon!” said a beaming Higgins to Ray Stubbs in the aftermath of what was an entertaining battle.

“I’ve won two out of the last three and there’s no reason why I can’t go on and win some more.” he continued.

The victory was no less than the Scot deserved having controlled the match from yesterday’s second session when an 11-5 lead put the groundwork down for today’s afternoon session where he increased his lead further to 16-8.

Can two-time Crucible winner John Higgins seal a hat-trick of World Championship victories when he takes on 2005 champion Shaun Murphy?

The ‘Wizard of Wishaw’ triumphed back in 1998 and 2007, but can take nothing for granted against an opponent who has enjoyed a rich vein of form in Sheffield.

Higgins led 11-5 after the first two sessions. However, this match is far from over and Murphy will be looking to close the gap heading into tonight’s final session.

John Higgins survived an almighty scare from Mark Allen before booking his place in the final of the World Snooker Championship. The Scot let a 13-3 lead slip as the Northern Ireland ace stormed back to trail 15-12 at the Crucible.

“I feel total relief,” said Higgins after winning 17-13. “I was just thinking I could throw this away here. All sorts of negative thoughts crept in, but it’s only at The Crucible that you do that. All credit to Mark. He’s great for the game – he’s like a street-fighter. He gets the crowd behind him as well. As I said to him afterwards, he will come back and win it one day.”

Snooker great Stephen Hendry hit a maximum 147 snooker break in his World Championship quarter-final clash with Shaun Murphy.

The seven-time champion looks set to pick up a cool £157,000 for the highest break of the tournament.

“It’s a tremendous feeling and I’m absolutely delighted” said the Scot after taking a 5-3 lead over former world champion Murphy.

Neil Robertson defeated last year’s finalist Ali Carter’s 13-8 at the Crucible earlier today in impressive fashion to set up a clash with Stephen Maguire next. Left-hander Robertson, from Melbourne, developed a 9-7 lead after pinching four of Sunday’s final five frames on the black, and the 27-year-old was in no mood to permit a Carter comeback.

Former champion Shaun Murphy shrugged off his off-table issues to seal a crushing 13-3 second-round win over Marco Fu at The Crucible. Murphy, who resumed with the luxury of a 7-1 lead, was in complete control against an outgunned Fu, and sealed victory with a session to spare. Fu started superbly with a 129 break, but Murphy replied with a century of his own to reassert his authority. And it was almost one-way traffic from then on, as Murphy sealed victory.