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The pair were locked at 5-5 when Higgins rattled in breaks of 144, 107 and 68 to take command at 8-5.

Maguire, who defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 6-1 in the semi-finals, got one back but former world champion Higgins wrapped up the match with a 97 break.

The victory gives Higgins his first ranking title for three years.

"That's probably the most important title I've ever won," said 29-year-old Higgins, who secured his 25th major title.

What was pleasing was that I played some of my best ever snooker John Higgins

"When I first started winning tournaments 10 years ago they came in a steady stream but when you haven't won one for three years you start to doubt yourself.

"When I was watching the Grand Prix last month, and how well Ronnie O'Sullivan played, I couldn't see any way of getting back to that sort of form.

"But it just shows it can happen and what was pleasing was that I played some of my best ever snooker."

After dropping the opening frame of the match, Higgins bounced back and took the next three for a 3-1 lead at the mid-session interval.

At least I didn't freeze in the final Stephen Maguire

Maguire then made breaks of 72, 55 and 76 to lead again, only for Higgins to clinch the final frame of the session.

And Higgins carried that momentum into the evening when he rediscovered his scoring touch.

Maguire, 23, who won the European Open last season, said: "I'm a little bit disappointed because when you reach a final you want to win but John played really well.

"At least I didn't freeze in the final. John looked so good, he hasn't won for a few years but I practise with him a lot and I knew he'd be back."

The result takes former world number one Higgins back into the top four, after he had slipped to 10 on the list.

"I hadn't won anything for a long time so it's no surprise that I had slipped down the rankings," said Higgins.