BANG ON CUE
Rocket greets Crucible fans as Higgo goes teetotal in bid
John Higgins has quit the booze as part of his bid to land a fifth world crown.
The Scot, who starts his Crucible quest against China’s Tian Pengfei today, went teetotal 18 months ago and is feeling the benefits.
Spectators returned to live action for the first time this year yesterday as defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan opened the 17- day tournament in Sheffield with a 10- 4 win over Mark Joyce.
Stephen Maguire will have to battle back from 5-4 down tonight in the second session of his firstround tie with qualifier Jamie Jones.
Higgins, who has lost three of the last four finals, will walk out at snooker’s spiritual home before Maguire (below right) returns.
And the Wizard of Wishaw said: “I haven’t touched a drop for about 18 months. It’s just one of those things where I’ve 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 has worked for me. I feel better.
“I feel better mentally. It just makes you sharper. I just think it’s 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 daysys to recover and I’ve not got enoughgh time left in the sport that I canan give up tournaments or practicece days if I wantant to give myself thethhe bestopportunitynity near the endd of my career.””
Hig g i n s (right) returns too the Cruciblele having endeded a three- yearar ranking titletle d roug ht aatt the Pl ayerer s
Championship in February. The 45-year-old had been on the verge of retirement but added: “It’s your whole family telling you you’re good enough and you’ve done it before that helps you.
“Your loved ones and family are the most important thing to you and if they believe in you, you’ve got half a chance in this sport.
“They tell you you’ve still got tournament wins but those words are hollow until you go out there and do it yourself.
“I played the best I’ve ever played to win that Players Championship and that gives you confidence. I’ve got a little bit more confidence in my game but it’s a tough 17 days. “There are so many great players that you have to play to a certain standard or you can be wiped out by anyone.”
Play was stopped for the first time in the 94-year history of the championship as a mark of respect for the Duke of Edinburgh at 3pm. Neil Robertson, the 2010 king, holds a 6- 3 overnight lead over China’s Liang Wenbo, while Yan Bingtao is 4- 4 with Martin Gould. It is one of the UK Government’s ppilot events to reintroduce fans to sport, with a rereduced crowd o f 213 wawatching on as the Rocket got things goingoing. A small g roroup of protprotestors gagatheredth outsoutside the venvenue to voicei didispleasure,l whwhile fans had to complete a fofour-stage process to get in.