Higginswants Worldcrownto endtoughrun

Wishaw’s John Higgins is hopeful that he can end a painful season of defeats with joy at the Snooker World Championships.

The four-time champion has lost five finals this term - three when leading in the final frame - and is desperate not to succumb to a similar fate at the Crucible.

Having lost 10 of his last 11 big showpiece matches, the Lanarkshire potter is sick of coming up second best and wants to banish those demons with a fifth crown on the biggest stage.

His last final win at this event came back in 2011 and victory in 2022’s instalment would see the World No.6 become the first player to land the trophy in four different decades.

Higgins said:“If I were to win, then it would be the best one of my career.

“If you think about the length of time from the first one in 1998 it would be incredible.

“To win the World Championship in four different decades would be a huge achievement. Who knows if I can manage it?

“It’ll be incredibly difficult but I’m just trying to give myself the best possible chance. I’ve done that away from the table. Now I have that sorted, I have to hope that my ability and game on the table will be able to take me there.

“It’s been a tough season in many ways. You just have to keep knocking on the door and hope it eventually opens. You have to keep putting yourself in those positions and see what happens.”

The Wizard of Wishaw faced Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the first round on Tuesday, coming hot on the heels of a recent Tour Championship collapse, where Higgins faltered from 9-4 up to lose a decider to Neil Robertson.

He’s also fell at the final stage of trying to claim a trophy at the Northern Ireland Open, English Open, Champion of Champions and Scottish Open.

Understandably downbeat after a torrid run in final matches, the veteran player has bounced back from adversity before and knows that he can’t take anything for granted at the Crucible.

He’s lost three successive finals before at this event between 2017-19, but that only makes him more determined to try and make up for previous failures.

Determined Higgins said prior to his match yesterday:“I’ve gone to the Crucible on occasions feeling really low and done really well.

“I’ve also felt really good and then fallen flat on my face so I will just need to turn up and see how I go.

“I’m looking forward to getting back there and giving it a good shot.

“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t eyeing a challenge at this year’s event.

“I’m too experienced at the Crucible to take anything for granted though.”