Sunday Express

Higgins drawing a little inspiratio­n from true legends

- By Shane Macdermott

EVERGREEN John Higgins has turned to yesteryear for inspiratio­n ahead of this week’s Masters.

The four-time world champion was the form man of 2021, but surprising­ly won just one of the six finals he reached.

Last season’s beaten Masters finalist visited Fred (below) and Joe Davis’ old snooker room during the recent Scottish Open.

The brothers dominated during the early years of the sport and Higgins took a trip down memory lane with old pal Alan Mcmanus, the 1994 Masters champion.

Elder of the two brothers, Joe, won the first 15 World Championsh­ips, while Fred won the tournament eight times in 10 years himself.

Higgins, 46, said: “When you think about the history of the game, Joe and

Fred Davis went down in folklore.

“These guys will go down in history. Their names will be more synonymous with the game than guys like myself when I’m dead and gone.

“It was great to see the history and where Joe and Fred Davis used to practice. It was amazing.

“It was really good fun, it was a real eye opener and it was really special.

“And it was a little surreal, really. It really was untouched from when Fred was last in there, him and Joe.”

Record seven-time Masters champion Ronnie O’sullivan refers to Joe Davis’ book ‘How I Play Snooker’ as the “bible”. And prolific potting pair O’sullivan and Higgins are once again among the favourites fighting it out for the hefty £250,000 top prize this week.

The Rocket ended his own uncharacte­ristic 16-month trophy drought, during which he lost five ranking finals, as he ended 2021 with the World Grand Prix crown and heads to London’s iconic Ally Pally full of confidence.

Wishaw Wizard Higgins hasn’t won snooker’s premier invitation­al event since his magical clearance to pip O’sullivan 10-9 in the 2006 final.

And the Scot suffered heartache in his bid to become only the seventh triple winner of the event at the hands of Chinese youngster Yan Bingtao last season.

He locks horns with another prodigy from China in the form of last month’s UK Championsh­ip winner Zhao Xintong in the first round.

Bingtao kicks off his title defence against Mark Williams this afternoon, while 2012 winner Neil Robertson faces Anthony Mcgill tonight.

 ?? ?? AWE-INSPIRED: Higgins loved his special trip
AWE-INSPIRED: Higgins loved his special trip
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