Healthier Higgins sets his sights on further glory
John Higgins believes more potting and fewer pints can catapult him back towards ranking event glory.
The Wizard of Wishaw has not lifted a trophy since the 2018 Welsh Open, but kept his Scottish Open hopes alive after battling from behind against Sohail Vahedi in Milton Keynes.
The four-time world champion trailed 3-1, but fought back against the Iranian, capped by a break of 65 to level the scores, to reach the last 64.
The world number six gave up drinking a year ago and hopes a healthier life away from the baize can reap rewards on it.
The 45- year-old said: “Going forward with different things, you’ re getting a bit older and you don’t know how long you’re going to have left here.
“It’s just something I consciously decided to do. I don’ t know if it’ s paying off, but you feel a bit better.
“I’ve not touched a drop, and obviously don’t miss it just now, with the way things are. With things that have happened, I decided I was better off without it.
“I’m delighted to still be in the tournament.
“I need to improve, I know that, but there was a good clearance to keep me in it and it was good to win the last frame, but I need to find better form.
“It was tough – one minute you can be up in this game and the next you can be a little bit down on yourself after a couple of results.
“Hopefully that win can perk me up and give me a bit of confidence going forward.”
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