GOLDEN BHOY

Celtic fan John admits he’d take five over ten any day

JOHN HIGGINS believes a fifth world title in a fourth decade might even top a dream 10 league titles in a row for his beloved Celtic.

The four-time champion might have equalled Stephen Hendry’s record mark of seven successes in Sheffield but has finished runner-up for the last three years.

Higgins boasts impeccable Crucible credentials as he prepares for another crusade at the Betfred World Championship. And the world No.5 must face in the first round another player with real pedigree at the venue in Matthew Stevens.

Stevens may not have lifted the trophy but in one purple patch from 2000 got to two finals and another three semifinals in six years.

He got to the quarter-final in 1998, the year Higgins claimed a first world title – and paraded the trophy at Celtic Park the day his team dashed Rangers own ‘10-in a-row’ hopes.

Celtic will look to make it 10 next season and Higgins said: “Me doing five titles would be better, of course!

“It’s amazing when you think I paraded the trophy for the first time at Parkhead all those years ago.

“It was Celtic then trying to stop the 10 by Rangers. I was there that afternoon.

“Oh my God, the tension there that day was incredible.

“At first I didn’t know how it could happen, winning titles in four decades because I’m only 45 – but if I managed that it would be unbelievable.

“But look at some of the older players coming through qualifying like Alan Mcmanus, and Mark Williams winning the title a couple of years ago.

“Ronnie O’sullivan is still there, he’s obviously still a big favourite.

“So it’s great all the old players are still playing to a high standard.

“But I am proud of my record and longevity at the Crucible and I’ve had great times there.”