This year is unlikely to go down as one of the finest in the career of John Higgins, the three-time world snooker champion.
The Scotsman was accused by The News of the World newspaper in the UK in May of match-fixing, and the allegations looked serious enough at one point to end his career.
He was cleared of those charges, but was suspended for six months for not having brought the approach to fix frames to the authorities when it had happened.
The UK Championship was Higgins's first tournament back in action after his ban had expired, and the 35-year-old made it a winning return on Sunday as he came from behind to beat Mark Williams 10-9 in the final.
The success is unlikely to make up fully for the anguish he had suffered during his imposed time away from the sport, but Higgins confessed he was "a man on a mission" at the UK Championship.
He had stated his desire to lift the crown for his dad, John, who is losing his five-year battle against cancer.
"I was a man on a mission. I was really determined to try and stop anything which prevented me from winning it," Higgins said.
"Given everything that surrounds it, this is my finest hour on the table.
"It means everything, just to be back playing and winning. It means a great deal.
"Obviously it means a great deal to my family as well."
Trailing 9-5 in the best-of-19 match, Higgins had looked out of it against his Welsh opponent, but he won five frames in a row to seal a superb fightback.
"I just never gave up," he added. "I thought 9-5 was too big a mountain but each frame was going past and I was still in it.
"It is an unbelievable feeling."
Williams, a two-time world champion, paid tribute to the Scotsman's fighting qualities.
He said: "John did well to come back, to be fair to him.
"I felt the gods were against me on a couple of occasions but I have got no complaints overall.
"I have been pretty dreadful all week. That was probably the best match I played all week.
"The best player in the tournament won but I had a chance to nick it and probably threw it away."
Higgins's success - his 22nd ranking title - moves him to No 1 in the world rankings above Neil Robertson, the world champion.
* Press Association
MATCH INFO
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By committing to at least one of these daily, you can bring more gratitude into your life, says Ong.
- During your morning skincare routine, name five things you are thankful for about yourself.
- As you finish your skincare routine, look yourself in the eye and speak an affirmation, such as: “I am grateful for every part of me, including my ability to take care of my skin.”
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
High profile Al Shabab attacks
- 2010: A restaurant attack in Kampala Uganda kills 74 people watching a Fifa World Cup final football match.
- 2013: The Westgate shopping mall attack, 62 civilians, five Kenyan soldiers and four gunmen are killed.
- 2014: A series of bombings and shootings across Kenya sees scores of civilians killed.
- 2015: Four gunmen attack Garissa University College in northeastern Kenya and take over 700 students hostage, killing those who identified as Christian; 148 die and 79 more are injured.
- 2016: An attack on a Kenyan military base in El Adde Somalia kills 180 soldiers.
- 2017: A suicide truck bombing outside the Safari Hotel in Mogadishu kills 587 people and destroys several city blocks, making it the deadliest attack by the group and the worst in Somalia’s history.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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