Greenbaizecomes beforegreen-andwhitehoopsfor booze-freehiggins
Die-hard Celtic fan, John Higgins, has stressed he will be fully focused on his World Championship bid today.
The avid Hoops supporter will miss the Old Firm Scottish Cup clash as he kicks-off his tilt for a fifth Crucible crown.
The match was moved to this afternoon due to HRH Prince Philip’s funeral.
And Higgins, who starts his first-round clash against China’s Tian Pengfei, admitted: “It can’t be helped due to Prince Philip’s funeral.
“I’m more interested in my first round game than Celtic versus Rangers – but at the interval, or after the session, I’ll see the score.
“It’s not been that hard watching Rangers dominate this season because the same thing happened as I was growing up.
“It’s not a new phenomenon to me, but it is for my eldest boy. He can’t believe what’s happened in his life!
“But for me it’s not that big of a deal because it’s happened so often over the years.”
Meanwhile, Higgins has quit booze in a bid to land another Crucible crown.
The seasoned Scot went teetotal 18 months ago, and is feeling the benefits of his lifestyle change.
And the rejuvenated World No. 5 is desperate to banish his recent Crucible heartache after three agonising defeats in the last four World Finals.
The Wishaw Wizard once again heads to snooker’s spiritual home as one of the leading contenders after a vintage display to pocket the Players Championship – his first ranking title for three years.
“I haven’t touched a drop of alcohol for about 18 months,” revealed Higgins. “It’s just one of those things where I’ve just decided to cut it out of my lifestyle. I don’t miss it.
“I didn’t have a problem or drink every night, but I decided to cut it out – and it’s worked for me. I feel better.
“I feel better mentally and different things. It just makes you sharper. When you get a bit older, if you go for a night out, it probably takes you a little bit longer to recover.
“It takes you two or three days to recover, and I’ve not got enough time left in the sport that I can give up tournaments or practice days if I want to give myself the best opportunity near the end of my career.”
Higgins’ barren rankingtitle drought coincided with his three painful back-toback final defeats at the game’s Theatre of Dreams.
The Scot was on the verge of retirement, but his family got him through those dark times.
Higgins has got his mojo back after a dazzling win saw him return to the green-baize game’s winners’ circle.
“It would be my best-ever achievement if I could win it for a fifth time, 10 years after I last won it,” he admitted.
“I know I lost in those three finals. But the one against Mark Selby is the one I let get away.
“Hand on heart, in the other two against Mark Williams and Judd Trump, they were just too good for me.”