John aiming for fourthdecade Crucible title
John Higgins has admitted he is in a race against time to secure a historic fifth World Championship crown.
The Wizard of Wishaw last won the world title in 2011, but the 44- year- old has been a losing finalist for the past three years in Sheffield.
This year’ s 17- day tournament at the Crucible should have been staging its final today and tomorrow, but is provision ally postponed until the end of July because of the coronavirus.
And, when snooker does finally return, Higgins hopes to do so with a bang by becoming the first man to win the world title in four different decades.
“Time is obviously running out for me to try to do it again,” admitted Higgins. “But I’m tough to beat at the Crucible. I put my heart and soul into it most of the time.
“I’ll be trying my hardest, and I’d dearly love to win another one. It would be really special.
“If I could win it again, it would have to be in the next couple of years. But who knows?
“And if I did, it would be the fourth decade that I’d won a world title.
“That would be incredible if you think about it – the 1990s, the noughties and the 2010s. I’d love to do it in the 2020s. That would be an incredible achievement.
“It won’t be for a want of trying.
“I’ll still be there for a couple of years yet, putting my heart and soul into it.
“Hopefully I can give the fans a little bit of enjoyment when snooker comes back.”
World No. 4 Higgins has spent the past few weeks with wife Denise and their three children at home in Scotland while the whole of the UK is in lockdown.
And Higgins reflected: “None of us have seen times like this before. The mostimportant thing is just being with your family.
“In a way it has been good to spend time together.
“We have been out in the garden a lot.
“My daughter is trying to show me how to use the trampoline and I’ve pulled a couple of muscles already!
“But the NHS are doing an incredible job. Sports people get put on a pedestal, but everyone now realises it’s the NHS workers who are the real heroes.”
Meanwhile, Neil Robertson hopes the rescheduled World Championship can provide inspiration to people during the coronavirus pandemic.
The former world champion is relishing picking up his cue again after the enforced lay-off.
“I know sport can really inspire people all around the world and maybe this can give people that little boost they need,” revealed the Aussie ace.
“I’ve got a couple of friends who are doctors and working in the hospitals. They are telling me how hard it is.
“Wh e n you are a professional sportsman – or anyone who has had a successful career – it is very important to realise how fortunate you are.”