John Higgins of Scotland plays during his final match against Judd Trump of England in 2011's World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, Britain, May 2, 2011. Higgins won 18-15 to claim the title for the fourth time. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi)

John Higgins came from behind to beat 21-year-old sensation Judd Trump 18-15 and clinch his fourth World Championship crown at The Crucible.

Scotsman Higgins added to his successes at Sheffield's crackling Crucible Theatre in 1998, 2007 and 2009 by winning a 33rd frame of the match that was indicative of the sporting drama of such a grand occasion.

The 35-year-old Scot was outplayed on the first day as Trump fired in two centuries to build a 10-7 lead.

Breaks of 104 and 99 put Trump 12-9 up, but a costly missed blue saw Higgins pounce and take five straight frames.

Trump made it 14-14 and trailed 16-15 but Higgins took the next and sealed it with a doubled pink and superb black.

It was an incredible finale to a stunning feast of high-class snooker throughout the four sessions.

Higgins earned a ￡250,000 cheque for his efforts over the past two days, but regaining the moniker of world champion will mean a whole lot more to him.

China Open winnier Trump earns ￡125,000 as the runner-up and a legion of new fans having entered the tournament as a qualifier and then downed Neil Robertson, Martin Gould, Graeme Dott and Ding Junhui, but Higgins was a deserving recipient of the trophy.