20 IS PLENTY FOR HIGGINS
SNOOKER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
JOHN HIGGINS is gunning for a magical fifth World Championship crown two decades on from his first.
The Wizard of Wishaw heads back to snooker’s spiritual home in Sheffield celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first world title this year.
Higgins’ dreams came true when he beat defending champion Ken Doherty 18-12 in the 1998 final.
And lifting the trophy after this year’s 17-day marathon would see him match Ronnie O’Sullivan on five Crucible crowns – one behind idol Steve Davis and two off fellow Scot Stephen Hendry’s record of seven.
Higgins said: “If someone had said I’d be going back still competing as a top player and having won a few events in the season 20 years on, I probably wouldn’t have believed them. It’s a proud thing to say.
“Obviously it was the biggest thing you’ve ever achieved as a professional at that point in your career.
“It was amazing and if you only won it once it would probably be the best thing that ever happened to you.
“I’ve been lucky enough to win it another few times and that’s great –but winning the first time at the Crucible is always really special.
“World titles are all hard to win, whether it’s your first or your fourth.
“I remember a good bit of it, beating Ken in the final and lifting the trophy for the first time – then having a big party after that.”
No player has successfully defended the world crown after a first-time win, the BY NEIL GOULDING famous Crucible Curse. And it took Higgins another nine years to recapture the title.
O’Sullivan has had his most prolific season to date, winning five ranking crowns aged 42. Higgins and two-time world champion Mark Williams have also won two ranking titles each this season.
Higgins, still flying high as world No.5, reached the Crucible final last year and crumbled from 10-4 ahead to lose 18-15 to Mark Selby.
And he added: “It was a big opportunity and I let it slip away a little bit.
“But that’s why you keep playing. You hope to put yourself in another position to win it again. Whatever happens it would be incredible to win a fifth.”
Higgins kicks off his title challenge on Wednesday morning against Thailand’s Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, with the best-of-19 frames clash due to finish that evening.