My high 5 will beat Celtic’s 10 in a row
Higgins says elusive fifth crown surpasses Hoops’ record title bid
JOHN HIGGINS believes winning a fifth world title in a fourth decade might even top a dream 10 in a row for his beloved Celtic.
The Scot boasts impeccable Crucible credentials as he gets set to cue it up again at the World Championship.
And the four-time champion will look to go one better after finishing runnerup in each of the last three years.
Today’s first-round rival Matthew Stevens may not have lifted the trophy but has been in two finals and three semi-finals.
He also reached the quarter-final in 1998 when Higgins claimed his first world crown – and paraded the trophy at Celtic Park the day his team ended Rangers’ 10-in-a-row hopes.
Celtic are going for 10 this season and Higgins said: “Me doing five titles would be better, of course!
“At first I didn’t know how it could happen, winning titles in four decades because I’m only 45 – but if I managed that it would be unbelievable.
“It’s amazing when you think I paraded the trophy for the first time at Parkhead all those years ago.
“It was Celtic then trying to stop the 10 by Rangers. I was there that afternoon. Oh my God, the tension there that day was incredible.”
Wishaw wizard Higgins hopes some bruising practice sessions with fellow Scots Stephen Maguire and Anthony McGill will help him end his final pain.
Last season he was thumped 18-9 by Judd Trump, which came hard on the heels of his 18-16 loss to Mark Williams and 18-15 defeat to Mark Selby in the 2018 and 2017 finals.
Higgins said: “Losing hurts, of course it does, but it was the manner in which I lost last year which hurt the most.
“I just got hammered, there’s no two ways about it. I was outplayed.
“Losing to Mark Selby in the Final was probably the hardest one for me to take.
“I was well clear, so that’s the one I maybe look back on with more regret than anything.
“But you’ve got to take credit as well for me to still be doing it and challenging for the title in my 40s.”
Higgins swapped practising at home for working with best mate Maguire and McGill but it didn’t take long for the competitive juices to kick in and money matches between the trio added extra spice as they warmed up for their bid to land the £500,000 top prize at the Crucible.
Higgins joked: “Let’s just say Ants is a few quid down. In all seriousness it’s a lot more enjoyable practising with the Scottish boys. .
“When I was back practising at the house I wouldn’t have been doing three or four hours, so I’ve been glad of the change and hopefully the work I’ve put in can help me a wee bit this year.”
“All you can do is give it your best shot. I still love playing there, it’s an unbelievable arena to play in.
“I’m just going to go there and enjoy it, and we’ll see where that takes me.”