John Higgins has labelled Zhao Xintong as a 'genius' after falling to defeat to him in the Player's Championship final over the weekend. Zhao came out as a 10-7 winner in the final in Telford on Sunday, claiming the £150,000 prize money.

Higgins had held a 7-6 lead in the match, but Zhao won four straight frames to claim victory and clinch his second straight ranking title. The win comes after a victory at the World Grand Prix earlier this month.

The comeback saw the 28-year-old score back-to-back centuries to help see out the match. The quality on show from the reigning world champion left Higgins in awe.

"I had the opportunity with the red, I could have gone 7-5 in front. That was the chance," he said after the final. "I couldn't pot a long ball all day and Zhao doesn't really miss any long balls. The last three frames, there it was, absolutely poetry in motion.

"I can always remember my dad saying things like he was lucky to see people like George Best and Jimmy Johnson. The snooker players, I'm sure my kids are lucky that they've watched somebody like Xintong because he is an absolute genius. A genius."

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When asked if he was impacted by nerves and fatigue, Higgins added: "No, not at all. I felt totally great. I felt really, really good, but I just couldn't pot the long balls.

"Then you're thinking, 'You've got to get them because if you don't get them, you know he's going to punish you.' As I say, the last three frames, it was a joy to watch even though I was on the receiving end."

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Responding to his win, Zhao said: "I still can't believe it. I was in Hong Kong last week. I won the championship again. It's a dream. I can't believe that.

"I just want to do the best snooker. This week I played not really good, but the last three frames I played three good frames."

The Chinese player may now have eyes on defending the World Championship title he won in Sheffield last year. The tournament starts in mid-April.

Asked about the tournament, he said: "I just want to enjoy the snooker, enjoy the table and I'm very happy to have a lot of friends here to see me play snooker. I really enjoy that."