Higgins has made a superb start to this World Open final.
The Scotsman missed out on a century in the second frame, but a break of 82 was enough to beat O'Connor, who had no reply.
O'Connor will know he needs to get on the board in this third frame.
The Scotsman takes a thrilling opening frame in the World Open final.
Higgins narrowly broke the deadlock, winning the first frame of the huge final 66-63.
The four-time world champion in on course to double his advantage after flying into a healthy lead in frame two.
The final is set to start at 6am GMT LIVE!
Action is available on TNT Sports 3 and Discovery+.
Back-to-back champion Judd Trump was a shock early exit, but not the only big name to go out early.
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Luca Brecel did not even make it to China.
Trump, current world No1, lost to finalist Joe O'Connor in the last-32.
Kyren Wilson, world No2, was also eliminated in the last-32.
World No3 Mark Selby and No5 Mark Allen were both eliminated at the last-64 stage.
None of the top six in the world even made the last-16.
John Higgins route to the final didn't see him take out names as big as O'Connor, but he still beat some big hitters.
As a ranked player, he is world No15.
He beat Mark Davis in the last-64 and Robbie Williams in the last-32.
In the last-16 he took out Zhou Yuelong, who in the round before had eliminated Kyren Wilson - so would have liked his chances.
Following his last-16 win he met Pang Junxu, and beat Zak Surety in the semi-final, setting up a meeting with Joe O'Connor.
Joe O'Connor has taken out some big names on his way to the final in China.
He took out Long Zehuang in the last-64, but pulled off the shock of the tournament in the last-32, beating defending champions Judd Trump.
He took out Michael Holt, before beating another top 10 ranked Shaun Murphy in the quarter-final.
In the semi-final, he met world No12 Ali Carter - and took another ranking player down.
He meets John Higgins in the final.
Players in China were playing for their split of a HUGE £825,000 prize fund:
Joe O'Connor and John Higgins are guaranteed at least £75,000, but both of them will want to add £100,000 to that total.
We now know our two finalists - Joe O'Connor and John Higgins.
John Higgins booked his place after beating Zak Surety earlier in the day.
Joe O'Connor booked his place after beating Ali Carter in the second semi-final.
Joe O'Connor beats Ali Carter 6-3 to book his place in the World Open final.
He will meet John Higgins in the final.
Ali Carter refuses to roll over for Joe O'Conner out here.
Carter has squeezed his lead back down to two frames.
Joe O'Connor remains unphased by Ali Carter winning a frame.
He restores his three frame lead - and is one from victory.
After losing three in a row, Ali Carter has won a frame.
He still trails O'Connor by two, but is back in the game.
Joe O'Connor has added another frame to his lead.
He now leads Ali Carter by three frames.
Joe O'Connor has added a third frame, putting him two clear of Ali Carter.
The players have gone for a break at the end of this frame.
Joe O'Connor seals an excellent 68 and he's pulled in front with one more frame to go until the mid-session interval.
Ali Carter breaking in the fourth frame on now.
After Joe O'Connor took the lead in frame one, Ali Carter has come right back to level.
Carter was commanding in the second frame.
Joe O'Connor takes the first frame against Ali Carter.
The action is underway in China!
The second semi-final will see Ali Carter take on Joe O'Connor.
Semi-final number two comes live on TNT Sports 3 and Discovery+ at 11:30am GMT.
World No39 Joe O'Connor takes on world No14 Ali Carter.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he will be making his snooker return at the World Grand Prix.
The event takes place on March 4 in Hong Kong.
The Rocket said: “I am really looking forward to coming to Hong Kong to play in the World Grand Prix.
“I have just been having a little break, to keep myself fresh. I am excited to see you all.”
BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.
The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.
The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.
Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.
Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.
Most World Titles (modern era)
Players in China will be playing for their split of a HUGE £825,000 prize fund:
Judd Trump will be unable to add the £175,000 this year, with the back-to-back champion having been knocked out.
John Higgins has booked his place in the World Open final.
The Scottish snooker sensation came back from 5-3 down to beat Zak Surety.
The score ended 6-5, with the final frame being level at 41-41 at one point.
Higgins will now play the winner of 11:30am GMT's semi-final, either Joe O'Connor or Ali Carter.
Zak Surety had threatened to run away with the game with a 5-3 lead.
However, Higgins remained calm.
The Scot has now forced an 11th and decisive frame in China.
As of Friday, February 28, Eurosport will no longer broadcast and channels.
Warner Bros. owns both Eurosport and TNT Sport, and aims to make sport more accessible for fans by putting it all in one place.
Therefore, snooker action will ONLY be live on TNT Sports 3 during the World Open, with the channels set to shut down prior to the tournament end.
Action will still be available to stream live on Discovery+
