Higgins eyes a long run at top

John Higgins hopes his eyesight holds up – so he can set his sights on being a force on the baize into his 50s.

The four-time world champion turns 48 this month and is still fighting it out at the top of the game.

The world No.9 shed more than five stones a couple of years ago to keep himself in touch with the big-hitters.

And he realises his eyes are the next big stumbling block to prolonging his illustrious career for as long as possible.

He said: “The eyesight is the main thing now. As long as that’s good, I can definitely continue playing until I’m 50.

“I’m going to keep on top of the weight side of things because, as you get older, it’s harder to shift the weight.

“But if I can keep some sort of desire to practise, then I’ve just got to hope my eyesight is good enough to compete into my 50s. Touch wood it is. You’ve got to be a little bit lucky with your eyesight.

“There are some shots I have to give it a second look. If your eyesight can stay pretty healthy and you’ve got a certain level of desire to come in and practise – it’s tougher over the years because you’re just coming into the same sort of environment and dark rooms – then you’ve got a chance.”

After his tough World Championship quarterfinal defeat Higgins revealed he could stop at the end of next season if he drops out of the top 16.

But he’s regularly threatened retirement when he’s been at a low ebb after losses, always rediscovering his mojo.

He added: “I don’t know how I’ve kept the desire but somehow I’ve always managed to keep that desire to be a top player.”