HIGGINS GOES BIG TO START WITH A BANG
JOHN HIGGINS rattled in a superb 12th career 147 to get his bid for a fifth title in the revived British Open off to a flier.
The 46-year-old from Glasgow lifted the trophy the last time this tournament was staged 17 years ago in Brighton.
But at Leicester’s Morningside Arena yesterday, the four-time world champion leapt out of the blocks against Switzerland’s Alex Ursenbacher.
In the very first frame, a slimmed-down Higgins, who lost over two stone doing bike spin classes over the summer, potted the 15 reds and blacks and the colours before completing a 3-1 victory.
Higgins has edged ahead of fellow Scot Stephen Hendry (above) in the all-time list into second place, and now only Ronnie O’Sullivan has made more on 15.
Higgins, who earns £5,000 for the feat, said: “It was a brilliant first frame for me getting the 147 break and a great way to start the tournament.
“And to do it there in front of a crowd after the last couple of years felt really good.
“The atmosphere was there when I was going for it. To get above Stephen Hendry in anything is special without a doubt, there aren’t many times that is the case.
“As for the money, they do happen more frequently now, so many more players are making them so it maybe isn’t feasible to have more. £5,000 is OK!
“You still get nervous going for them. On the black I was thinking about Ken Doherty missing one, I always do – saying, ‘Imagine if you miss this’.
“I do feel better for the weight loss and the spin classes.
“Every year after the World Championship I used to say to my wife that I would lose weight and never did.
“This year she just said, ‘Come with me to the classes’. I thought it would be all women but it wasn’t! And I have done it ever since, four or five times a week.
“It won’t help you pot balls, but maybe feel better and better about yourself. And I think I felt good out there today during the 147. I have never been one for fitness but the waistcoats never lie – and it was very tight at the World Championship this year. I didn’t feel comfortable, and that was behind it.”
Meanwhile World No.1 Judd Trump breathed a huge sigh of relief after edging past world No.89 Mitchell Mann last night.
The Juddernaut came within a couple of pots of a first-round exit that would have seen Mark Selby grab his top spot in the rankings.
But after Mann, 29, missed the final blue the 31-year-old Trump held his nerve to pot up to the pink to win 3-2 in a tense decider and fall over the line.