When John Higgins won the world title in 1998, the sight of his mother in the audience at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre precipitated the kind of tearful outpouring not normally associated with a player whose granite-like features complement a rock-solid temperament.

Higgins, the world No3, yesterday defeated Peter Ebdon 10-3 to win the Irish Masters, his first title since he captured the British Open in October, and it was no coincidence that his return to form came when he had his family around him again.

Higgins complained in Bangkok this month that he was not enjoying snooker after being eliminated from the quarter-finals of the Thailand Masters.

But these comments appear merely to have been a reaction to the three-week separation he was forced to endure from his wife, Denise, and six-month-old son Pierce while competing in back-to-back tournaments in Asia.

This week he was accompanied to Dublin by his wife, son and parents, John and Josephine, and the stability they offer him helped the old form to return.

"I'm delighted to be playing well again and it's a real bonus to win the tournament," Higgins said afterwards. "It's been a great week on and off table. Pierce can't appreciate it yet but it was a great boost to have him here. Peter didn't play anything near his best but I was happy with how I scored and my overall game."

The Scot compiled breaks 91, 109, 56, 69, 78 and 55 to open up a 7-2 first session lead over Ebdon and won the first of the evening to stave off a comeback before adding two of the next three frames to secure the £65,000 first prize.

Ebdon admitted: "It's taken one of the greatest match-players the game has even seen to beat me this week so I can't be too disappointed."