Higgins’ anger at fans on phones
John Higgins was left infuriated at the World Open as fans used mobile phones during play.
Four-time world champion Higgins, 42, scraped into the third round with a 5-4 win over England’s Matt Selt in Yushan.
But the in-form world number two, who won the Indian Open last week, found the behaviour of some fans all too much.
Despite repeated reminders from the referee Wang Lei, spectators were continually meddling with phones, and distracting players.
Higgins said:“My concentration wasn’t 100 per cent, so I was letting it affect me.”
But unfortunately for Higgins he crashed out in the next round at the hands of David Gilbert.
The Wizard of Wishaw was one of the tournament favourites for the title but Englishman Gilbert grabbed his first major win over Higgins.
He said:“John has beaten me every time in the major events, so it is nice to finally get a win over him. It’s one for my CV. I played well today and felt I could score every time I was in.”
Higgins believed the better man won in the 5-2 thumping in China but insisted he made very few mistakes as former farmer Gilbert ousted him.
He said:“He just completely froze me out.
“I didn’t do too much wrong in all honesty.
“When someone plays like that there’s not much you can do.
“Every time he got in he scored heavily so you can’t have any complaints.”